Rabies Submission Procedures

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Rabies Submission Procedures
Bonny Mayes, B.S., M.A. Rabies
Epidemiologist Zoonosis Control Branch
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Rabies Testing

• If rabies testing is advised, submit specimen for
  testing ASAP
• Specimens that appear to be unsatisfactory may or
  may not be testable
• Lab will make that determination

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Changes to Rabies Rules

• Texas Administrative Code RULE 169.33 -
  Submission of Specimens for Laboratory
  Examination
• Two discrepancies between current rules and
  shipping/packing instructions
• Required brain parts changes in CDC
  recommendations
• Labeling on outer container revisions in Code
  of Federal Regulations

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Specimen Preparation

• Euthanize animal remove head
• Spray for ticks/fleas
• Double-bag head label with ID info (must match
  specimen ID on submission form!)

send entire bats OK to send entire body of
small rodents
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Specimen Preparation

• Chill (32F to 45F) head immediately following
  removal
• Do NOT freeze

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Specimen Preparation - Tissue Sample
Requirements

• If shipping brain material, insure that
  sufficient material is sent
• Inadequate samples will result in an
  unsatisfactory test result
• entire cross section of brain stem (midbrain,
  pons or medulla level) plus cerebellum and/or
  hippocampus tissue required

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Brain Stem from Rabies Donkey
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Shipping Rabies Specimens

• Ground Courier (Bus, USPS, UPS) instructions
  revised 2/2007
• http//www.dshs.state.tx.us/lab/rab_prep-ship.shtm
  
• Biological Substance, Category B, not
  diagnostic specimen
• Title 49 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) parts
  171 ? 179 (http//hazmat.dot.gov/regs/rules.htm)
• http//hazmat.dot.gov/training/mods/mod.htm
• Specimens must be triple-contained in a rigid
  outer packaging that can withstand a 1.2 meter (4
  ft) fall

shipment via air courier must comply with more
stringent IATA regulations
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Ground Transportation

• Bus recommended
• daily pickup including weekends/most holidays

• USPS not reliable

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Shipping Rabies Specimens

• Place absorbent material in insulated inner
  container
• Surround head(s) with sufficient refrigerants to
  keep head(s) cold for at least 48 hours
• If ice must be used, double bag to prevent
  leakage!!

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Shipping Rabies Specimens

• Place more absorbent material on top to cushion
  specimen(s)
• Close inner container
• Put completed rabies submission form in a plastic
  zip-lock bag and place on top of inner container
• Secure outer container with packing tape

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Submitter NameAddressSubmitter City, State, Zip
CodeContact PersonPhone Number
Name, address, telephone number of a person
knowledgeable about the shipment of the rabies
specimen
Texas Department of State Health
Services Laboratory Services Section 1100 W. 49th
Street, MC-1947 Austin, TX 78756-3199 Attn
Letha Zuckero Rabies Identification
Team 512-458-7595 BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY
B REFRIGERATE ON ARRIVAL
100 mm X 100 mm (3.9 inch) minimum dimension
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DSHS Austin Laboratory (front view)
Rabies necropsy lab
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Specimen drop off entrance DSHS Laboratory, north
entrance
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Notification

• Call the toll-free Rabies Hotline at
  1-800-252-8163
• This is required by state law!
• Submitter, specimen(s) shipped, expected arrival
  time, courier, phone number
• Questions regarding testing, call Rabies
  Identification Lab at 1-888-963-7111 X7595 or
  512-458-7595

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Questions? Comments?