Submission and testing of animals for rabies

The OSDH has contracted with the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at OSU to conduct rabies testing for the state if people or other animals have been exposed. “Exposed” could mean the following:

• The animal bit a person or another animal
• Another animal is known or suspected to have bitten the animal in question
  
• Saliva from the animal has come into contact with a person or another animal’s broken skin or mucus membranes (a naturally moist part of the body such as eyes or mouth)

Animal rabies testing is performed Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL), located at 1950 W. Farm Rd. in Stillwater. The rabies lab will conduct testing at some point during weekends in which a state holiday either precedes or follows the weekend to minimize delays in testing. Urgent test requests may occur on weekends or holidays following consultation with the OSDH Infectious Disease Prevention and Response (IDPR). Healthcare providers, veterinarians, and animal control officers are advised to consult with the IDPR Epidemiologist-on-Call at (405) 426-8710 (24/7/365 availability) to determine if urgent animal rabies testing is warranted based on the bite circumstances, severity and animal involved. 

Specimens received by 10:30 am are usually reported on the same day, or on the next business day if submitted during the weekend. Specimens received after 10:30 a.m. are tested and results reported on the next business day. An IDPR epidemiologist will contact the submitter by telephone when a specimen is positive for rabies, and when a specimen is deemed unsatisfactory for testing. OADDL e-mails negative results on the day the test is completed and e-mails positive results the business day following test day. Results will not be faxed or mailed if no e-mail is provided by the original submitter.

If the animal’s head is available for testing, the decision to take rabies post-exposure shots should always be postponed until the rabies test results are available. It is definitely safe to wait the extra day or two for the test results before starting the rabies shots, if needed.  

1. It is important to keep the head of the animal intact. The rabies test is performed on the brain of the animal, so it is important that the animal’s brain remain intact until it arrives at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL). Things to avoid: crushing the animal’s skull, shooting the animal in the head, freezing the animal, leaving the animal at room temperature. 
2. The animal should be kept cold – NOT frozen – at all times. An animal left at room temperature can decompose, which prevents rabies testing. All efforts should be made to keep the animal cold by refrigeration, not freezing. If the animal was frozen prior to consulting this guidance, ensure that the animal remains frozen until it arrives at the OADDL.
3. OADDL accepts animals of all sizes and species (but there is a decapitation and disposal (except wildlife) fee for animals >12 inches). If an animal is 12 inches or longer, send only the head. A veterinarian should remove the head to be sure the brain stays intact.
4. Place the animal head in a box with a leak-proof plastic bag liner. Make sure to label RABIES on the box so it is placed in the appropriate location on arrival at OADDL.
5. The animal must be taken to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL), located at 1950 W. Farm Rd. in Stillwater. Options for safely transporting the animal may include:
   • Using a courier service that can be arranged through your veterinarian
   • Personally delivering the animal to the OADDL. Upon arrival at OADDL, contact Oklahoma State University Police at (405) 744-6523. OSU PD will provide entrance into OADDL for placement of submission in the Rabies Refrigerator. Only heads or animals that can fit in the approved rabies box or a similarly sized and sealed box can be accepted after hours.Intact animal submissions over 12 inches long (exclusive of tail) will incur additional charges for decapitation and disposal.