Diagnosis of rabies is confirmed by
A) direct fluorescent- antibody test.
B) Gram stain.
C) passive agglutination.
D) patient's death.
E) patient's symptoms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The direct fluorescent-antibody (DFA) test is the most commonly used and reliable test for confirming rabies infection. DFA involves taking a sample of tissue from the brainstem and staining it with fluorescent antibodies that can detect the presence of rabies virus antigens. This test can provide results within 24 hours and is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of rabies.

Choice B: Gram stain is used to identify bacteria based on their cell wall structure and would not be useful for diagnosing a viral infection like rabies.

Choice C: Passive agglutination is a laboratory technique used to detect and identify antigens in a patient's blood serum. It is not commonly used for diagnosing rabies.

Choice D: Waiting for the patient's death to confirm diagnosis is not an appropriate or ethical diagnostic method.

Choice E: Patient's symptoms alone are not sufficient for diagnosing rabies as the symptoms can be similar to other neurological diseases. A definitive diagnosis requires laboratory testing.

Diagnosis of Rabies Is Confirmed by