Rabies - Diagnosis

A doctor who sees these symptoms will order tests to confirm the diagnosis. One test is called a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. A lumbar puncture is a procedure in which a long, thin needle is inserted between the vertebrae in a person's spinal cord. A sample of the fluid surrounding the vertebrae is removed. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A lumbar puncture is important because it rules out other possible causes of the patient's symptoms.

Tests can also be performed to detect the virus or antibodies produced by the body against the virus. Antibodies are chemicals produced by the immune system. They are manufactured when some kind of foreign substance enters the body. A different kind of antibody is produced for each different foreign substance. If the rabies virus is present, the immune system will have produced a very specific kind of antibody.

Some tests can detect the virus itself. For example, a small amount of liquid material in the cornea of the eye can be collected on a slide. The liquid can then be examined under a microscope. If the rabies virus is present in the body, it can be seen under a microscope.