​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Rabies​​Rabies virus is a zoonotic disease ​that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal. APHL works closely with our member public ​health laboratories which serve a critical role in rapid and accurate testing of potentially infected animals to inform patient medical management and surveillance of positive cases. APHL develops and promotes resources and training to ensure that high quality testing using the latest methods is available everywhere in the US. 

APHL Resources for US Public Health Laboratories

Laboratory Diagnosis of Rabies: The Role of Molecular Testing (2025) 
APHL developed these recommendations and considerations for the use of NAAT in the postmortem diagnosis of rabies virus in animals. The report was based on a literature review and consultation which also identified several knowledge gaps where additional data, ideally in peer reviewed publications, are needed to continue to move the field forward.

Rabies Diagnostics: Assessing Your Public Health Laboratory Toolkit (2017)
 APHL developed this self-assessment tool to facilitate the routine self-assessment of rabies testing practices for quality, safety and best practices.  


Other Resources

Rabies Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) Testing, CDC-Standard Protocol for Postmortem Diagnosis of Rabies in Animals 

National Notification for Animal Rabies, CSTE Position Statement for Animal Rabies 

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Vaccination and Minimum Acceptable Rabies Antibody Titer Level to Prevent Rabies, CDC-ACIP Recommendations 2022