The rabies laboratory at the Texas Department of State Health Services
(TDSHS) Laboratory Services Section in Austin is the primary rabies diagnostic laboratory
in the State of Texas; it serves as a rabies reference laboratory for other
laboratories in Texas, as well as for adjacent states in the US and Mexico.
Information is exchanged/shared via email with the CDC and other experts in
the field. The laboratory coordinates closely with the Zoonosis Control Division, and all
positive results are transmitted to the Public Health Regions, via email,
after the results are completed.
The laboratory receives between 8,000 and 10,000 animal specimens annually for rabies
testing. Routine testing is done by
direct fluorescent antibody staining. In addition to diagnostic testing, the laboratory
types all positive specimens by either
monoclonal antibody staining,
restriction digest typing,
or nucleotide sequencing to determine the strain of rabies virus present in the animal.
Typing information is used to follow the spread of rabies through animals and across the
state. This information has proven to be extremely useful in defining the vaccine drop
zone for the Oral
Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) of wild animals in order to combat rabies epizootics in
coyotes in south Texas and foxes in west Texas.
Rabies Frequently
Asked Questions
How much time is required to do rabies testing?
See Turnaround Time and Reporting of Rabies Results
How do I submit a specimen for rabies testing?
See Specimen Submission Guidelines
Will the laboratory test rodents?
Rodents are not normally associated with rabies, therefore testing of rodents is
discouraged. However, if a rodent was wild (as opposed to cage raised) and bit a person in
an unprovoked attack, the laboratory will test the rodent.
What does an "unsatisfactory" report for rabies mean?
See Result Interpretation
What does an "inconclusive" report for rabies mean?
See Result Interpretation
The specimen was frozen by mistake. Can it still be tested?
The specimen may still be submitted for testing; however, freezing and thawing of
brain material causes two problems for rabies testing. (1) The thawed brain will be
very soft and mushy making it difficult to identify the various parts of the brain. If the
parts can be identified a specimen will be tested as normal. If the parts cannot be
adequately identified, the material will be tested and reported "positive" if the material
appears positive, but will be reported "unsatisfactory"
if the material does not appear positive. (2) Freezing and thawing of the brain may actually
inactivate the virus. This is not a problem for the direct fluorescent antibody test--
this test is not dependent on viable virus but only on the presence of viral
antigen, however, it may compromise additional testing, such as culture for confirmation of
specimens that are difficult to interpret by the direct fluorescent antibody test.
How much it will cost to test the rabies specimen?
The Texas Department of State Health Services does not charge for rabies testing. However, the
TDSHS will not pay shipping charges.
The specimen looks decomposed/destroyed, smelly, green, etc. What
should I do?
You should still submit the specimen to the Laboratory for testing. It is sometimes
difficult to predict the condition of the brain by viewing the condition of
the exterior of the head. The personnel in the Laboratory will necropsy the specimen and
make a decision as to the suitability for testing, based on the brain material itself. If
there is any material present at all, it will be tested. If that material is positive for
rabies, the specimen will be reported "positive." If that material is not
positive, and the technologist determined that the specimen was either too decomposed or destroyed for the
test to be reliable, the specimen will be reported "decomposed" or "destroyed," based on the
condition of the brain material.
When do I need to do to have my serum, or that of my animal, tested to
determine response to a rabies vaccine?
Follow the submission instructions provided by the Kansas State
University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
What if I still have questions related to rabies?
Click here to view the CDC Questions and Answers about Rabies
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