Reporting & Investigation of Mumps

Table of Contents

A. Purpose of Surveillance and Reporting

  • To identify cases and susceptible exposed people rapidly and to prevent further spread of the disease.
  • To confirm mumps infection as the cause of glandular swelling/pain.
  • To distinguish between failure to vaccinate and vaccine failure and development of a plan to address the problems.

B. Initial Questions to Ask Healthcare Provider and Patient

To assess the likelihood that a suspect case is a true case prior to laboratory testing, LPHA and/or other public health staff helping in the investigation should ask about:

  1. symptoms,
  2. mumps immunization history,
  3. recent history of dental work,
  4. recent history of travel (to where and dates),
  5. whether there were any recent out-of-town visitors (from where and dates), and
  6. whether there was any recent contact with anyone with similar symptoms.

Iowa Administrative Code 641-1.3(139) stipulates that the laboratory and the healthcare provider report. The reporting number for IDPH Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE) is (800) 362-2736.  After completing the investigation and gathering the information to complete the investigation form, enter information into the Iowa Disease Surveillance System (IDSS), or FAX the report form with supporting laboratory documentation to (515) 281-5698 or mail (in an envelope marked “Confidential”) to the Iowa Department of Public Health, CADE, mailing address:

Iowa HHS, CADE
Lucas State Office Building, 5th Floor
321 E. 12th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

Postage-paid disease reporting forms are available free of charge from the Iowa HHS clearinghouse.  Call (319) 398-5133 

C. What to Report to the Iowa Department of Public Health

  • A suspect or confirmed case of mumps, as diagnosed by a healthcare professional, or
  • Isolation of mumps virus from clinical specimen, or
  • Significant rise between acute and convalescent phase titers in serum mumps IgG antibody level by any standard serologic assay, or
  • Positive serologic test for mumps IgM antibody.

D. Laboratory Testing Services Available

  • Laboratory tests should be conducted on anyone with symptoms compatible with mumps without other apparent cause, regardless of vaccination history. 
  • All specimens described below should be obtained for all patients with suspected mumps.

Testing for Mumps Virus

The specimen should reflect the pathology of disease. Specimens sent to the University of Iowa State Hygienic Lab (SHL) should be submitted with a completed SHL “Viral Test” request form. Test request forms and specimen collection and shipment instructions can be found at the SHL web site at www.shl.uiowa.edu/kitsquotesforms/ . Unlabeled specimens will not be tested.

Parotid gland duct swab for polymerase chain reaction testing (in M4 viral transport medium) may be collected from date of onset of symptoms to 9 days after onset of symptoms. Massage the parotid (salivary) glands for 30 seconds prior to swabbing the buccal cavity (the space near the upper rear molars between the check and the teeth).  Place swab into M4 Viral Transport Medium and do not remove swab.  Specimen must be stored and shipped cold (on ice packs).  Laboratories have M4 transport tubes available in the SHL Biodefense kits (blue box), herpes kits, and virus isolation kits.

Serologic Testing

Collect 7-10 ml blood in a red top or serum separator tube (SST) with a   completed SHL Serology Test Request form and ship either a) with culture specimens cold (on ice packs) or, b) at ambient temperature.  Test request forms and instructions for collection and shipment of specimens can be found at the SHL web site at www.shl.uiowa.edu/kitsquotesforms/.  Serum for mumps virus IgM should be collected 3 to 5 days after symptom onset. Mumps virus IgM peaks at 1 – 2 weeks after symptom onset.

Contact SHL at (319) 335-4500 to request test kits, specimen collection instructions, test request forms, and shipping instructions or visit www.shl.uiowa.edu