Rabies Course Info screenshot

Laboratory Methods for Detecting Rabies Virus
February 5-9, 2018 ● CDC, Atlanta, GA
Sponsored by the National Laboratory Training Network in collaboration with
the Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
DESCRIPTION

LOCATION

Designed for individuals performing rabies testing in public
health laboratories, this four and one-half day workshop
addresses traditional rabies testing techniques, safety in the
rabies laboratory, specimen acquisition and preparation, rabies
quality control and proficiency testing, standardized testing
procedures, emerging technologies, and epidemiologic issues.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA

OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this program, the participant will be able to:
 Describe the basic properties of the rabies virus, its
transmission, and disease course as well as relevant
epidemiology of rabies in the United States.
 Assess the critical role of the rabies laboratory in terms of
diagnostic capability and the interpretation of laboratory
results as well as prevention and control of rabies in humans
and animals.
 Recommend safe practices for those working in rabies
diagnosis or shipping laboratory specimens.
 Identify and prepare appropriate specimens for rabies
diagnosis.
 Review the importance of standardized DFA testing
according to the national protocol.
 Demonstrate proficiency in observing DFA slides, detecting
rabies virus antigen when present, and correctly interpreting
difficult test results with sparse antigen or non-specific
staining.
 Summarize quality control and quality assurance procedures
for the rabies diagnostic laboratory.

APPLICATION
Application Deadline: November 1, 2017
 The preliminary application is to be completed online at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/100-18RabiesApp.
 Only completed applications received by the deadline will be
considered. Application does not guarantee acceptance.
 If you are unable to complete the application online, email
Marisa Barley at marisa.barley@aphl.org or phone +1
240.485.3843.
 Participants will be selected according to the degree to which
the applicant’s job description, experience, and
responsibilities are consistent with the workshop objectives.
 Notification of acceptance status will be sent via email after
November 13, 2017.
 Requirement: Applicants must fax proof of rabies immune
status prior to the application deadline to APHL at
+1 888.242.5619 in order for application to be considered.

REGISTRATION
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AUDIENCE
This advanced-level workshop is designed for the public health
microbiologists with responsibilities for bench testing or
supervising the rabies laboratory. Participants must be familiar
with the general methods for safe handling of infectious viruses.

CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is approved
as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical
laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. Participants
who successfully complete this program will be awarded 34
contact hours. Event Number: 588-100-18.

Fee: Free Registration!
Registration and logistical details will be provided upon
acceptance into the course.
It is important to start the travel approval process (without
making any non-refundable travel plans) with your state or
local agency as soon as possible. Do not make any
non-refundable travel arrangements until you are notified of
acceptance into the course.
Participants are responsible for all lodging, meals, and travel
costs.

SPECIAL NEEDS
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
individuals seeking special accommodations should submit their
request in writing at least three weeks prior to start date of the
workshop to Marisa Barley, APHL Customer Support. For more
information phone +1 800.536.6586 or +1 240.485.3843.

QUESTIONS?
Please email Marisa Barley, APHL Customer Support.

This training was supported by Cooperative Agreement # 5NU60HM000803-03 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents
are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.
This project was 100% funded with federal funds.

The National Laboratory Training Network is a training system sponsored by the
Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For a complete list of courses, visit https://www.aphl.org/training.

Laboratory Methods for Detecting Rabies Virus ● February 5 - 9, 2018 ● CDC, Atlanta, GA
PRELIMINARY AGENDA 15 minute breaks included daily in a.m. and p.m. Day 4
Day 1
7:30 a.m.
7:45
8:00
8:20
8:50
9:10
9:40
10:15
10:45

12:30 p.m.
1:30
2:00
2:30

3:00

4:30
5:00
Day 2
8:00 a.m.
8:30
11:00
11:30
12:00 p.m.
1:00
1:30

4:00
4:30
5:00
Day 3
8:00 a.m.
8:30
11:00
11:30
12:00 p.m.
1:00
1:30
4:30
5:00

Monday, February 5, 2018
Welcome and Course Overview
Safety in the Training Lab
Pre-Test
Lecture: Rabies Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFA):
Need for a Standardized Testing Procedure in the US
Lecture: Basic Rabies Pathogenesis
Lecture: Safety in the Rabies Laboratory, Shipping
Guidelines
Video: Removal of Brains from Animals for Rabies
Diagnosis
Lecture: Lab Instructions
Laboratory: Dissection of Brain Tissues, Preparation of
Slides
Demonstration: Removal of Brains from Foreman
Magnum
Lunch (on your own in CDC cafeteria)
Lecture: DFA National Standard Protocol
Lecture: Fluorescence Microscopy: Basic Principles,
Selection, Use and Preventive Maintenance
Laboratory: Demonstration of Basic Microscope
Orientation, Safe Replacement and Alignment of a
Microscope Lamp
Laboratory: Observe Pre-Stained DFA’s on Brain
Impression Slides: Strong Positive, Negative and Weak
Positive Slides
Proficiency Challenge 1: Anatomical Identification of
Brain Tissues, Evaluation of Slides for Testing
Group Discussion
Adjourn
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Lecture: Lab Instructions
Laboratory: Perform DFA Tests on Slides Prepared the
Previous Day, Unknowns, Observation of DFA Test Slides
Lecture: Confirmatory DFA Repeat Testing
Lecture: Trouble Shooting DFA Tests: Staining,
Mounting, Reading, and Interpretation
Lunch (on your own at a CDC cafeteria)
Lecture: Lab Instructions
Laboratory: Perform Confirmatory DFA on Unknown
Slides, Observe Confirmatory DFA Test Slides
Proficiency Challenge 2: Interpretation of DFA Slides
Lecture: Quality Assurance, Rabies Proficiency Testing
(PT), Personnel Training for Competency
Group Discussion
Adjourn
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Lecture: Direct Rapid Immunohistochemistry Future
Confirmatory Test (DRIT)
Laboratory: DRIT Confirmatory Test
Laboratory: Observe DRIT Slides
Lecture: Conjugate Titration
Lunch (on your own at a CDC cafeteria)
Lecture: Lab Instructions, Conjugate Titration
Laboratory: Conjugate Titration
Proficiency Challenge 3: DRIT Slides, Confirmatory DFA
Group Discussion
Adjourn

8:00 a.m.
8:30
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00 p.m.
1:00
1:15

4:30
5:00
Day 5
8:00 a.m.
9:00
9:30
10:00
11:00
11:45
12:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 8, 2018
Lecture: Bat Identification
Laboratory: Bat Identification, Observe and Discuss DFA
and DRIT Slides Previously Tested, and PT Test Slides
Lecture: Antigenic Typing
Lecture: RT-PCR
Lecture: Molecular Epidemiology of Rabies Virus
Lunch (on your own at a CDC cafeteria)
Lecture: Lab Instructions, Antigenic Typing
Laboratory: Antigenic Typing of Unknown Samples,
Observe Unknown/Known Antigenic Typing Test Slides
Proficiency Challenge 4: Bat Identification
Group Discussion
Adjourn
Friday, February 9, 2018
Lecture: Lab Instructions, PT, Post-Test
Lecture: Clinical Aspects of Rabies in Humans and
Human Diagnosis
Lecture: Pre and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Issues
Lecture: Rabies Surveillance in the USA
Final Group Discussion
Evaluation
Adjourn

FACULTY
Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens
and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious
Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, GA
James A. Ellison, PhD, Microbiologist
Yu Li, PhD, Molecular Diagnostic Team Lead
Michael Niezgoda, MS, Microbiologist
Lillian A. Orciari, MT, MS, Microbiologist
S. Sathesh Panayampalli, PhD, Immunodiagnostics Team Lead
Brett W. Peterson, MPH, MD, Medical Officer
Andres Velasco-Villa, PhD, Associate Service Fellow
Pamela Yager, BS, Public Health Laboratory Technologist
Crystal Gigante, PhD, Oak Ridge Inst for Science & Education (ORISE)
Specimen Management Branch, Division of Scientific Resources,
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC
Atlanta, GA
Yvonne Stifel, BS, Biologist

INVITED FACULTY
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, WI
James Powell, MS, Senior Microbiologist, Rabies Unit

NOTE *SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
NON-US CITIZENS - This course will be held at the CDC Roybal
campus. Due to CDC requirements for security clearance, all non-US
citizens will be asked to provide information needed to obtain
clearance, which will only be used for the purposes of attending this
course. Detailed instructions will be provided upon acceptance into the
course. Please do not make any nonrefundable travel plans until you
have received confirmation of acceptance into the course and security
clearance approval.
US CITIZENS - If you are a US CITIZEN there is no extra clearance
process required.