IMMUNITY OF YOUNG ADULTS TO CHILDHOOD DISEASES

Epidemics of measles and rubella on college campuses stimulated us to study the immune status of similar age individuals. Plasma collected for routine laboratory studies at entrance to nursing or dental school were tested by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for varicella (V), measles and mumps (MM) antibody. To define the seronegative range, tests were standardized for MM Measles 3/235 (1.3%); and Varicella 6/235 (2.5%). On the day sera were obtained, 99 students were given MMR on the basis of historical data. Five seronegative for mumps and 2 for measles were not immunized; the latter had "physician documented measles." Thus, half the students needing protection against MMR were not immunized, while many others not requiring vaccine received it. Inexpensive serologic screening performed on blood obtained for other routine laboratory tests can identify the few students requiring vaccine including those who, on the basis of current historical criteria, would not have been immunized.