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Updated: Oct 25, 2026
Detection of Rabies IgG and IgM Antibodies Using the Rabies Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test
Published on: January 19, 2024
Rabies immunoglobulin utilization and delayed presentation following category III rabies exposure: a 10-year
Jing Wang1, Weiwei Cai1, Jiaxin Chen2
1Department of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hangzhou Health Supervision Institution), Hangzhou, China.
Background:
Rabies is an almost invariably fatal, vaccine-preventable zoonosis. Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is recommended for Category III exposures, yet real-world RIG utilization remains poorly characterized. This study examined temporal trends and factors associated with RIG utilization and delayed presentation among Category III exposure patients in China.
Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted using clinical records of Category III exposure patients presenting to a high-volume rabies prevention clinic in Hangzhou, China, from 2015 to 2024. Calendar year 2018 was treated as a temporal reference year for descriptive comparison. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with RIG non-administration and delayed presentation (>24 h post-exposure).
Results:
A total of 14,270 eligible cases were analyzed. Overall RIG utilization was 37.54%, declining from 53.09% in 2015 to 7.14% in 2022. RIG non-administration was independently associated with male sex (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11-1.29), age 18-59 years (OR 3.25, 95% CI 2.95-3.59), exposure at home (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.33-1.63), presentation in 2018 (OR 2.38, 95% CI 2.01-2.82) and in 2019-2024 (OR 4.49, 95% CI 3.96-5.09), and delayed presentation (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.32-1.55). The overall delayed presentation rate was 34.47%; independent risk factors included age 18-59 years (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.24-1.52), exposure at home (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.41-1.74), and presentation in 2018 (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.40-1.86) and in 2019-2024 (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.62-1.94).
Conclusion:
RIG utilization was low and showed marked temporal variation during 2015-2024, and one third of patients presented more than 24 h after exposure. Both outcomes were concentrated among working-age adults and domestic exposure settings. These findings describe service utilization patterns and identify subgroups in which gaps in PEP delivery are concentrated; targeted risk communication and routine monitoring of RIG utilization and presentation timeliness are needed.
