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:

• The epidemiology of rabies
• Rabies testing in humans
• Rabies testing in animals

Travel

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

• The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) is responsible for matters concerning travel requirements for pets. Relevant information is available online. (Crossing the border with dogs, cats or ferrets, Overview of animal diseases (in French, German, or Italian), und Animal disease diagnostics (in French, German, or Italian). Specific questions can also be sent to info@blv.admin.ch.
• Medical advice for travellers http://www.healthytravel.ch.

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.

We make every effort to adhere to the testing times. However, due to internal circumstances, delays may occur from May 2024 and it cannot be guaranteed that all samples can always be processed immediately. Thank you for your understanding!

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