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Rabies Specimen Packing and Shipping Instructions

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• Rabies Specimen Submission Guidelines
• Packing and Shipping Directions

Rabies Specimen Submission Guidelines

• Bites and other exposures to saliva or nervous tissue from animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the local health authority. Authorization for submission of specimens for rabies diagnosis must be obtained from the local health authority. Caution must be taken during sample preparation to avoid direct personal contact with specimens. Pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for persons preparing rabies specimens. Decapitation and livestock brain sample extraction can best be performed at a cooperating veterinary hospital.
• Rabies diagnosis is performed at the State Health Department's Wadsworth Center. The examination is performed by a direct immunofluorescence procedure on fresh brain tissue. Results are routinely available at the local health authority on the workday following arrival of the specimen at the laboratory. The Rabies Laboratory operates from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays. Emergency weekend or holiday examinations must be arranged with the lab by the local health authority.
• Do not submit live animals. The animal should be humanely euthanized without damage to the head. The head must then be removed from the body and submitted intact for examination. Bats should be sent whole. When livestock are to be submitted, samples of all 3 lobes of the cerebellum and a complete cross-section of the brainstem are required and may be removed through the foramen magnum. For detailed directions, see Livestock Submission Procedures.
• Specimens must be preserved by refrigeration. Freezing should be avoided, but is acceptable if refrigeration is not possible. Tissues must not be fixed with chemical preservatives.
• Tools, cages and other surfaces potentially contaminated with infectious saliva or blood can be disinfected with a 10% solution of sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) in water.
• Properly packaged specimens may be shipped directly to the Rabies Laboratory (correct address on provided envelope) by parcel post or commercial carrier. Special arrangements are necessary with carriers for weekend delivery. Local health offices may arrange transportation to the laboratory.
• Questions regarding submission of specimens and the handling of animal bites should be directed to the Rabies Laboratory weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (518) 485-6464.
  Emergency requests should be directed to the Duty Officer at (866) 881-2809.

Packing and Shipping Directions

Shipping sets include:

• One pre-assembled shipping container, including outer cardboard box, EPS cooler and two biohazard pressure bags.  Packing instructions are printed on top-inner flaps of the outer cardboard box.
• Two gel packs of refrigerant (store frozen until needed).
• Two plastic bags (13 x 20 x 4 ml) for the animal head, livestock or other large animal brain, or entire body of bats.  Secure and seal before placing in biohazard pressure bag.
• One large plastic bag that surrounds the closed EPS cooler.
• Two absorbent sheets which are to be placed in biohazard pressure bags along with the specimen.
• Two blank rabies history forms and directions for collection and submission of specimens.
• One zip-lock bag for the rabies history forms.

• Remove the head from the body of the animal (except bats) and place the head in a small plastic bag.  Cool specimen in refrigerator or freezer, whenever possible, before packaging, to enhance preservation (especially in warm weather).  When shipping samples consisting of only cerebellum and brain stem (e.g., livestock submissions), first place the brain tissue in a small, hard plastic container, then place in the small plastic bag.  Specific directions for livestock submission can be found on the Rabies Laboratory website, www.wadsworth.org/rabies.   If sharp objects protrude from the specimen (e.g., bone fragments, porcupine quills) wrap specimen in several layers of newspaper, prior to putting the specimen into plastic bag.  Place the bagged specimen into the biohazard pressure bag along with the sheet of absorbent.
• Prior to sealing the biohazard pressure bag, make sure the bagged specimen and absorbent sheet are inside the bag.  To seal the biohazard specimen bag, remove the tape adhesive backing from the bag, fold bag at slit and orient lines onto corresponding lines.  Press hard from center working outward. Do not force larger heads into the biohazard pressure bag.  If the head is too large for the biohazard pressure bag, alternative shipping will be recommended.  In such cases, contact the rabies lab (@ 518-485-6464) for assistance.
• Complete the history form provided with the shipper.  Answer all questions as accurately as possible; the information provided will be used to report results to the local health authority.  When shipping more than one specimen in the container (e.g. bats), be certain that: each specimen is individually bagged to prevent cross contamination; each specimen is clearly identified and that a separate history is prepared and placed in the box for each specimen.  The identification on the bag containing the specimen and the corresponding history should be identical.  (If the specimen bag is labeled “bat #1-Smith”, then the history should also have the identification “bat #1-Smith”, written clearly and in indelible ink.)
• Place the completed rabies history form in the zip-lock bag provided, then place the zip-lock bag on top of the EPS cooler.
• Follow packaging instructions printed on the inside flap of box.
• Wash hands.  Disinfect or burn all materials contaminated in specimen preparation process.
• Do not use glass, wire or other materials capable of causing wounds as containers, tag fasteners, etc.
• Be sure to arrange for prompt delivery (next day delivery is preferable). 

      DO NOT ship specimens on Friday without prior approval for emergency testing.

• Although the rabies specified shipping container provided is compliant with current federal shipping regulations, the shipper is responsible for the proper packaging and labeling of diagnostic specimens.  Refer to the guidelines at the International Air Transport Association (www.iata.org), search for “Packing Instructions 650” on the IATA search window, US Department of Transportation (www.dot.gov), and the United States Postal Service (www.usps.com) for additional information.