Rabies Testing: Department of Health

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CLIA Certificate of Compliance for High Complexity Clinical Laboratory
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
Ambient Air and Drinking Water Testing
Food Science Laboratories are accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Testing Laboratories, Certificate AT-2054
Forensic Biology/DNA, Toxicology and Drug Chemistry Laboratories are accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Testing Laboratories, Certificate FT-0004, Federal Bureau of Investigations DNA Analysis & CODIS
Rhode Island Department of Health - In-State Analytical Laboratory Certificate
Rhode Island Department of Health - In-State Clinical Laboratory License

What we do

Perform rabies diagnostic testing on animals that have exhibited symptoms of neurological illness and that have either bitten, or come into potential contact with, an individual.

Report findings to the RIDOH Center of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology in a timely manner because the course of treatment of individuals known or suspected of being exposed to rabies is dependent on rapid availability of animal testing results.

Maintain a trained on-call group of scientists to conduct and interpret these results and report them rapidly.

Analyze animal specimens submitted by RIDEM Environmental Officers, municipal animal control officers, pest control services, and the public. The most common specimens submitted for testing are bats, raccoons, skunks, but have also included dogs, cats and large farm animals.

Contact

Rabies Testing

Mission

What we do

Accomplishments