Animal Health Diagnostic Center -
Sample Submission
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Rabies Suspect Samples
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| Samples for rabies testing should not be sent to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center! All Rabies Viral FA testing is performed
by the NYS Department of Health's Wadsworth
Center Rabies Laboratory in Albany. |
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Guidelines for submission |
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| The Following is Guidelines for submission to the Rabies
laboratory. Outlined by Robert Rudd, Director of the Rabies
Laboratory. |
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Submission of a rabies specimen requires prior approval of the local
health authority (county health department or district office of the
State Health Department). Emergency and after-hour exceptions can
be made with the approval of the: |
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Acceptable specimens include only: |
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rabies suspect mammals for which there has been a reported bite,
scratch, or other possible saliva or nervous tissue exposure to
a human.
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rabies suspect mammals with reported bites to (or other "intimate"
contact with) a domestic animal.
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all bats encountered in situations where human or domestic animal
contacts cannot conclusively be ruled out.
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highly suspect surveillance specimens (no reported contacts), including
(i) rabies vector species showing clear signs of rabies infection,
from an area without previous confirmed case; (ii) a mammal not
commonly recognized as a rabies vector, but showing clear signs
of rabies infection; (iii) a domestic animal that dies or is euthanized
under the care of a veterinarian for which rabies is part of the
differential diagnosis of neurologic disorder.
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specimens associated with laboratory-approved enhanced surveillance
programs associated with wildlife vaccination programs.
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No live animals will be accepted by the Laboratory. The intact head
only of approved specimens will be accepted. Exceptions include bats,
which should be killed and submitted whole, and livestock, for which
brainstem and cerebellum, removed by a veterinarian, constitute
the specimen. |
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Do not submit the entire head from livestock. The appropriate samples
can be removed from the calvarium with minimal contact by obtaining
the sample through the foramen magnum. (A written description
with a diagram of this technique is available from Robert Rudd, Director
of the State Health Department Rabies Laboratory. A video of the procedure
is available for loan from the Animal Health Diagnostic Center,
607-253-3900). |
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Specimens must be properly packaged in a standard rabies shipping
container (available at county health department), or at least contained
in two separately sealed plastic bags, and a sealed cardboard container,
assuring strict biocontainment. Specimens must be accompanied by a
completed rabies specimen history form. Submitters should see rabies
specimen packing and shipping instructions for details. |
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Rabies diagnosis is performed weekdays from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Specimens
received evenings, weekends, or holidays are processed the next regular
workday. |
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Emergency Examination:
An animal that has bitten a human and is highly suspect of rabies
infection because of species, behavior, and location of capture and
for which a physician is awaiting the results before initiating postexposure
rabies prophylaxis, will be examined on a weekend or holiday, by prior
arrangement with the laboratory. Such specimens must arrive at the rabies laboratory prior to 11:00
am to be tested the same day, and should be accompanied by telephone
numbers of the after-hours contact to receive results. Because some
bat bites may be more difficult to recognize than those of other rabies
vector species, all cases of direct human contact with a bat, when
bite or mucous membrane contact cannot be ruled out, should be treated
as an emergency. |
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During warm months, it is particularly important that specimens being
shipped on Fridays or preceding holidays be sent with attention to
prompt delivery and proper packaging. If hand delivery cannot be arranged,
then overnight courier service should be requested (e.g., Federal
Express Next Day Service, UPS Saturday Delivery, U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail). Instruct packers to place one or two extra freezer packs in the standard
rabies shipping container. |
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Routine rabies examination results will be sent by FAX to the county
or district health office, that shall in turn notify other interested
parties. Reports will be available at the local health office during
the workday morning following receipt of the specimen at the laboratory.
Except for emergencies and late Friday submissions, local offices
are asked to refrain from calling the laboratory routinely for examination
results. Reports of rabid animals will continue to be immediately
reported by telephone to the local health authority. |
