Specimen Collection and Handling Procedures

Rabies

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUBMITTING ANIMALS FOR TESTING

Animals to be tested should have bitten or exposed a person or a domestic animal. The laboratory recommends that you consult with one of the rabies staff in cases where questionable exposure may be a factor to determine whether the animal should be tested. A fact sheet on the rabies website is available. A rabies manual has been published for emergency personnel (physicians, veterinarians and animal control officers).

The animal should be killed in a manner that will not damage brain tissue (i.e. do not shoot animal in head or club it to death). Whenever possible, only the head should be brought to the laboratory in a leak proof plastic bag. Skunks should be tightly sealed to minimize skunk odors when brought into the laboratory. Smaller animals (e.g. bats) can be brought in intact. If the animal cannot be brought in shortly after death, to minimize decomposition, it should be refrigerated (2-8?C) but not frozen ; it can be stored up to several days in this manner.

A clinical history, including the names of physicians or veterinarians consulted, must be included with the specimen if it is sent to the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory by bus or other means. If the specimen is hand carried, the history will be taken upon receipt. All results will be reported by telephone whenever possible. A written report of the laboratory results will also be sent. Specimens submitted on the morning of a workday will be tested and reported in the afternoon. Specimens received in the afternoon of a workday will be tested and reported on the next workday, unless there is an emergency involving the bite of a high-risk animal (raccoon, skunk, fox, bat, woodchuck) to a human patient.

 

*Note: It is important to complete the requisition form with the source from which the specimen was taken.