(Ref: )Lab diagnosis of rabies*RT-PCR: detecting the viral nucleic acid especially on biological fluids (saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, tears) and skin biopsy (ante mortem) and brain samples (post mortem)*Serum and spinal fluid are tested for antibodies to rabies virus*Skin biopsy specimens are examined for rabies antigen in the cutaneous nerves at the base of hair follicles*Immunofluorescent antibody staining of the epithelial cells on the corneal impression test (FAT)">