Amplification methods

Samples containing small amounts of rabies virus may be difficult to confirm as rabies-positive by routine methods. Virus isolation in cell cultures increases the virus concentration because the virus replicates in cell cultures. Mouse neuroblastoma cells (MNA) and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells provide an excellent environment for amplification of rabies virus without the use of animals.

PCR test results for rabies virus. The arrows indicate positions of positive bands.

Another method for amplifying the nucleic acid portion of rabies virus uses biochemical methods. With this procedure, rabies virus RNA can be enzymatically amplified as DNA copies. Rabies RNA can be copied into a DNA molecule using reverse transcriptase (RT). The DNA copy of rabies can then be amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique can confirm dFA results and can detect rabies virus in saliva and skin biopsy samples.