Swiss Rabies Center

As the National Reference Laboratory for Rabies, the Swiss Rabies Centre at the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is responsible for laboratory diagnosis of rabies in humans and animals.

Our diagnostic services include both post-vaccination antibody testing and virus detection.

The Swiss Rabies Centre:

  • Checks vaccination success in humans (after pre- and post-exposure vaccination).
  • Carries out antibody tests on animals to determine post-vaccination titre levels, e.g., for travel abroad.
  • Supports the public health and veterinary authorities (federal and cantonal) in rabies detection and surveillance.
  • Offers advice for medical and veterinary professionals, private individuals and public authorities.

Specific information for owners, veterinarians and doctors:

Testing over Easter 2024:

  • Samples that arrive at the laboratory by no later than 10 am on Thursday, 28.3.2024, will be scheduled for testing on Wednesday, 3.4.2024. The results will be sent out by priority mail (A Mail) / e-mail in the afternoon of Friday, 5.4.2024.
  • Samples arriving later (no later than 10 am on Friday, 5.4.2024) will be scheduled for testing on Monday, 8.4.2024. The results will be sent out by priority mail (A Mail) / e-mail in the afternoon of Wednesday,10.4.2024.

Travel

For questions in connection with traveling abroad, please refer to the following offices:

Opening hours and availability:

The Swiss Rabies Centre is open from Monday to Friday (working days). During laboratory work we are only intermittently contactable by phone, so please contact us preferably by e-mail.

 

 

General terms and conditions: AGB-IVI_ger.pdf (in German)
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