Table 3.

Comparison of DFA, dRIT, RT-PCR and the immunochromatrographic test (ICT) for the laboratory diagnosis of rabies.

	DFA	dRIT	RT-PCR	ICT
Equipment required	Fluorescent microscope	Light microscope	Thermal cycler	None
Fixative used	Acetone	Formalin	Various	None
Inactivation of the virus	Incomplete	Yes	Dependent on method	Incomplete
Applicability to decomposed tissue	No	No	Yes	Not always
Requirement for further standardization and validation	No	No	Yes	Yes