Human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell line: An alternative for rabies virus diagnosis and research.

Rabies is a serious public health problem in developing countries and is caused by Rabies lyssavirus (RABV), a neurotropic RNA virus. The gold standard test for rabies diagnosis is the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT). Nevertheless, a confirmatory method is recommended, such as rabies tissue culture infection test (RTCIT).