The Swiss Rabies Centre
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The Swiss Rabies Centre:
- Checks vaccination success in humans (after pre- and post-exposure vaccination, German).
- 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 and public authorities.
Travel
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 and Animal disease diagnostics (in German, French or Italian). Specific questions can also be sent to info@blv.admin.ch.
Medical advice for travellers: www.healthytravel.ch
Opening hours and availability
Due to staff shortages and the high volume of samples, it currently takes up to three weeks from the arrival of the sample at the laboratory to the availability of the result!
Testing over the festive period (titre determination):
Monday, 27 December 2025
Samples must arrive at the laboratory by 10 am on Friday, 19 December 2025 (by post or courier).
Results will be sent by first-class mail or email on Wednesday, 24 December 2025.
There will be no testing on Monday, 29 December 2025.
Specific information for animal owners as well as for veterinary and medical professionals:
Rabies testing in animals
Due to staff shortages and the high volume of samples, it currently takes up to three weeks from the arrival of the sample at the laboratory to the availability of the result.
Rabies testing in humans
In rabies vaccination, a distinction is drawn between preventive vaccination before any contact with the virus (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and the more complicated vaccination after possible contact (post-exposure prophylaxis) (FOPH guidelines and recommendations: pre- and post-exposure rabies prophylaxis in humans, German).
The epidemiology of rabies
Worldwide, there are an estimated 59,000 human fatalities every year. Around 99 percent of these cases are due to bites from infected dogs (= urban rabies). Prophylactic vaccination is therefore recommended before travel to rabies-risk countries. Before its eradication, the main form of rabies in Switzerland was silvatic rabies, with the red fox as its reservoir.
Swiss Rabies Centre
Swiss Rabies Centre (Monday to Friday)
Länggassstrasse 122
3001 Bern