Rabies Antigen Detection (FA)
| WSLH Department: | CDD - Communicable Disease Division |
| WSLH Test Code: | VR01800 |
| Availability: | Monday - Friday |
| Turn-around Time: | Same day on specimens received before 1:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, next working day for specimens received after this time. Equines - testing will be delayed 1-3 days for EEE testing at a partner lab. |
| Recommended Uses: | To determine the presence or absence of Rabies virus in an animal that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person or domestic animal to saliva, nervous tissue or cerebrospinal fluid. |
| Contraindications: | Test not suitable for an animal exposed, just the animal suspected of carrying rabies virus. Not suitable for small rodents (especially pets) without consultation with the county's designated public health official. |
| Additional Tests Performed: |
| Patient Preparations: | Patient (in cases where a human has been exposed) should consult with physician. Bite wounds or other skin breaks or mucous membrane exposure should be treated as any comparable wound. In extremely high risk cases, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis may be started. Owners of exposed domestic animals should consult with a veterinarian. |
| Specimen Requirements: | The entire brain including the cerebellum and brain stem, or the whole head or the entire animal if squirrel-sized or smaller. |
| Specimen Handling & Transport: | Package the specimen so that NO leakage will occur in transit. Specimens are preferred refrigerated but not frozen. Specimens must be packaged in compliance with applicable transportation safety regulations. |
| Collection Kit/Container: |
Rabies specimens
|
| Collection Instructions: | Animal heads (or brains) must be fresh and not crushed or mutilated. Euthanize the animal without trauma to the head. Depending on size, submit the entire brain, the entire head, or the entire animal (squirrel-sized or smaller). |
| Unacceptable Conditions: | Live animals are not acceptable. Whole animals larger than a squirrel are not acceptable. Specimens with skull or brain crushed, brain decomposed or exposed to excess heat (partial cremation), brain incomplete, brain fixed or chemically preserved may not be tested. Submit the specimen for laboratory evaluation of specimen quality. Fixed tissues will be rejected. |
| Requisition Form: |
Rabies Form
|
| Required Information: | Name and address of victim (if human exposure) or owner of domestic animal. Name and address of physician (human exposure). Name and address of veterinarian or other submitter. Type of animal (common name). |
| Results Include: | Positive / Negative / Equivocal / Not Performed (if specimen unsatisfactory) |
| Limitations: | The different regions of the brain must be discernible to perform a satisfactory test. Poor specimen condition may preclude obtaining a satisfactory result. |
| Additional Tests Recommended: | |
| Additional Comments: | WSLH Rabies website: http://www.slh.wisc.edu/clinical/diseases/rabies/ |
| Methodology: | Fluorescent Antibody, microscopic examination |
| Includes: | Necropsy of brain and preparation of direct contact slides for analysis for detection of rabies virus. |
| CPT Code: | |
| Price: | $78.00 |