ARUP Medical Director: Laboratory Testing and Vaccination Are Essential To Stop Measles Outbreaks

ARUP Laboratories’ Benjamin Bradley, MD, PhD, medical director of the ARUP Institute for Research and Innovation in Infectious Disease Genomic Technologies, High Consequence Pathogen Response, Virology, and Molecular Infectious Diseases, said laboratory testing for measles is key to slowing the spread and stopping the current outbreaks during a media briefing with the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

Bradley explained that laboratory tests target two different antibodies, immunoglobulin M (IgM), which is formed early in acute infections, and immunoglobulin G (IgG), which indicates previous infection or vaccination and immunity. ARUP provides testing for both IgM and IgG and is actively working to launch an improved measles test soon. Bradley said serology tests can help patients with unclear vaccination statuses. “If antibodies are present, we assume the patient is protected against the virus. If antibodies are not detected, the patient may need a vaccine booster,” Bradley said.

The measles virus was eliminated from the United States in 2000, but recent outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico, and a handful of other cases across the country are cause for concern. According to the CDC, as of March 6, 2025, a total of 222 measles cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing, and one child, who was unvaccinated, has died. A second death in New Mexico is currently under investigation. The patient, who was also unvaccinated, tested positive for measles after their death.

Bradley said measles is an incredibly infectious virus that can cause severe complications after infection, including a condition known as immune amnesia, in which the body forgets how to fight off other infections. In rare cases, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a progressive, degenerative, neurological condition can develop years after infection and is fatal.

“This isn’t a one-time respiratory illness that comes and goes. There are many downstream implications both to the individual and the community.” In communities with low vaccination rates, measles can spread very quickly, he said, but he also offered some hope.

“Measles virus only infects humans. In theory, if we have complete vaccination coverage across the globe, we can end measles virus, like we did for smallpox,” he said.

Bradley was joined by CAP President, Donald Karcher, MD.

Access ARUP’s measles resources here.

Watch the media briefing here.

Bonnie Stray, bonnie.stray@aruplab.com