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NEWS—Important change in rabies testing, a message from the CFIA, BCCDC, and BC's Chief Veterinarian
May 28, 2026
As of June 1, 2026, the CFIA’s rabies laboratory in Lethbridge will be closed permanently. All rabies testing submission must now be sent to the CFIA Ottawa Animal Health Laboratory. BC’s Rabies Guidance for Veterinarians has been updated with all the pertinent information.
Please refer to the BC Guidance for Veterinarians for instructions on managing rabies exposures and sample submission for rabies testing. If you require further assistance, the next point of contact for BC veterinary practices about rabies testing is through the BCCDC Public Health Veterinarian (PHV) at publichealthvet@bccdc.ca. Please do not contact CFIA Rabies Laboratory without contacting the BCCDC PHV first.
Regulation and reporting:
Rabies is a reportable animal disease to the Chief Veterinarian in BC under the Reportable and Notifiable Disease Regulation, pursuant to the BC Animal Health Act [2014].
Rabies is a reportable animal disease to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) under the federal Reportable Diseases Regulations, Health of Animals Act. Owners, veterinarians and laboratories fulfill their reporting requirements by submitting suspect animals for testing. In British Columbia, the Reporting Information Affecting Public Health Regulation requires veterinarians to report to a Medical Health Officer (MHO) all known or suspected cases of a person exposed to rabies.