As measles outbreaks surge across the US, more than 74,000 older adults have received blood tests to check their measles antibody status. This surge in testing is largely driven by public awareness of high-profile local outbreaks, with many seeking to confirm their immunity before visiting newborn grandchildren or traveling to outbreak areas.

Measles Immunity Testing on the Rise

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults born during or after 1957 who do not have proof of immunity should get vaccinated. However, for those who cannot find their vaccination records, a titer test can be a helpful alternative. Adults born before 1957 are presumed to be immune to measles, but those who are unsure can also get tested.

Nancy Churnin, a children’s book author from Plano, Texas, got a measles titer test last year before the birth of her grandchildren. She was surprised to learn she was not immune and subsequently got vaccinated. Churnin’s story highlights the importance of knowing one’s immunity status, especially for older adults who may have been vaccinated decades ago or have no access to their vaccination records.

According to an analysis by Truveta, a healthcare data and analytics company, the rates of older adults seeking measles immunity tests spiked across the country during last year’s West Texas measles outbreak and again earlier this year as South Carolina’s measles outbreak became the nation’s largest in decades.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.