The FDI FITC ANTI-RABIES MONOCLONAL GLOBULIN is used in the direct fluorescent antibody procedure for the in vitro detection of rabies in brains and submaxillary glands.The direct fluorescent antibody test is the best single test available for the diagnosis of rabies. Studies have shown that the fluorescent antibody method for detection of rabies may be more sensitive than the mouse inoculation test;however, the results of the two tests are 99-100% correlative.
Monoclonal anti-rabies antibodies, conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), are incubated with suspected virus infected tissue. In the presence of rabies virus, antigen-antibody complexes will form. If the tissue being examined contains no viral antigen, specific complexes will not be formed.
Rabies virus-anti-rabies antibody complexes are visualized using a fluorescence microscope. Positive reactions demonstrate bright apple-green fluorescence of particles ranging in size and morphology from “dust particles” to prominent cytoplasmic inclusion “Negri bodies.”
The use of monoclonal antibodies4 in the FDI FITC ANTI-RABIES MONOCLONAL GLOBULIN provides specific and uniform staining, with reduced background
staining.Rabies adsorbing suspension (RAS) may be used to confirm specificity of the staining.
Because of the specificity of the FDI FITC ANTI-RABIES MONOCLONAL GLOBULIN, however, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)6 have suggested elimination of the RAS for routine testing. RAS confirmation is still recommended for samples which may be equivocal using the FDI FITC ANTI-RABIES MONOCLONAL GLOBULIN, and for technician training.