Course Outline
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- Introduction
- Epidemiology, Life Cycle, and Transmission
- Epidemiology
- Life Cycle within a Human Host
- What is the status of rabies in the United States?
- Once a human or animal has been bitten, the rabies virus can replicate in muscle tissue and then, after a period of time, invade the central nervous s...
- Pathogenesis
- Initial Signs and Symptoms
- Central Nervous System Symptoms
- What is the approximate incubation period for rabies?
- Which of the following is a CNS symptom not observed in animals infected with rabies?
- Rabies Testing
- Introduction to Rabies Testing
- Antemortem Testing in Humans
- Postmortem Testing in Animals and Humans
- Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test
- Direct Rapid Immunohistochemistry Test
- Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Test
- Immunohistochemistry Test
- Histologic Examination
- Serological Testing During Prophylactic Treatment
- Specimen Submission to the CDC Laboratories
- Which of the following specimens is not acceptable for human antemortem testing?
- True or False: A gold-standard test is required to confirm a positive rabies test.
- Which test gives accurate results on rabies testing of decomposed or formalin-fixed brain tissue?
- In a routine histological exam of rabies-positive brain tissue, what are the eosinophilic inclusion bodies in neuronal cells infected with rabies call...
- Prevention, Treatment, and Control
- Recommendations for Prevention in Humans
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
- Post-Exposure Treatment
- Rabies Surveillance in the U.S.
- Control of Rabies in Wildlife in the U.S.
- Which group of people is at the greatest risk for rabies infection in the United States?
- Which group of people is least likely to require rabies human immunoglobulin injections after exposure to a rabid animal?
- Which of the following potential rabies carriers is currently found in all of the United States except Hawaii?
- Selected Cases of Rabies
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author Information:
Margaret Reinhart, MS, MLS(ASCP), is a Senior Lecturer emerita of Biological Sciences at St. Joseph's University (formerly University of the Sciences), where she taught hematology, clinical immunology, microbiology, parasitology, and other related courses, as well as directed the MLS program for over 30 years. She also taught courses in Global Environmental Sustainability and Animal Studies. She is currently an adjunct instructor in Hematology at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. She holds a Master's Degree in Biology and a Master's Degree in Health Care Administration.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information: Kayla Lichtenberger, BS, M(ASCP), MLT(ASCP), has built a progressive career in clinical microbiology at Essentia Health. She began as a medical laboratory assistant, where she developed a strong foundation in diagnostic workflows before transitioning into the microbiology department. There, she advanced into leadership as the lead technologist, overseeing daily operations, guiding workflow efficiency, and supporting high‑quality diagnostic results. Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from North Dakota State University and a medical laboratory technician degree from Rasmussen College, grounding her leadership in both scientific training and hands‑on laboratory experience.
