Clarifying Indeterminate Results on the Rabies Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test Using Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase...

Each year, rabies virus infection results in the death of more than 50 000 persons worldwide. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 23 human rabies cases from May 1, 2008, through October 1, 2017. Although rabies testing in the United States is highly reliable, some specimens submitted to rabies laboratories do not have adequate tissues or may be substantially decomposed. In these instances, the specimen may be considered unsatisfactory for testing or produce indeterminate results using the gold standard direct fluorescent antibody test. The objective of this study was to evaluate the number of unsatisfactory samples or samples with indeterminate results that were positive for rabies virus after additional testing using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

In 2016, we retested all unsatisfactory specimens or specimens with indeterminate results using real-time RT-PCR. We further typed any sample that was real-time RT-PCR positive to identify the infecting rabies virus variant.

Of 210 retested unsatisfactory specimens or specimens with indeterminate results, 9 (4.3%) were positive for rabies. In each case, the animal was infected with a homologous rabies virus variant.

These results confirm the recommendation by CDC and state public health laboratories that indeterminate results should be considered positive and justify the prompt treatment of exposed persons through an animal that is suspected to have rabies.