The role of the European Union Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-mouth disease in enhancing the diagnostic capacity of national reference laboratories
Résumé
Background/Introduction
In 2019, the consortium of two institutions, Anses (France) and Sciensano (Belgium), was designated as the European Union reference laboratory (EURL) for FMD by the European Commission. The EURL has several missions: Ensuring availability of high-quality methods and high-quality performance by National Reference Laboratories in each country of the EURL network; Providing assistance to NRLs; Providing scientific and technical assistance to the European commission and other organizations; and finally, Maintaining an FMD reference collection and production of reference control reagents.
Material and methods
To ensure high quality performance among the NRL network, the EURL organizes each year a proficiency test (PT) for participant laboratories from the EU Member states, EU candidate countries and EU neighboring countries. This PT is composed of three different panels (panel one with live virus, panel two with inactivated virus and panel three with sera), to assess all tests that can be used for FMDV diagnostics. Moreover, training sessions are organized to enhance laboratory capacities. These trainings can be conducted through the EURL mandate, but also with the support of EuFMD.
Results
In 2023, 46 laboratories participated to the PT, and global results were satisfying. Following the PT, participants can register to training sessions organized by EURL on FMDV diagnostics (two weeks session). In collaboration with EuFMD, the EURL also organized four training sessions for laboratories on FMDV molecular diagnosis (3 sessions of one week) and on FMDV diagnostics (1 session of two weeks).
Discussion and conclusions
Europe is FMD-free but its presence at the EU borders makes it a constant threat. Through its activities, the EURL FMD tries to ensure and enhance diagnostic capacities of laboratories among the EURL network, but also in the neighboring countries. With these particular activities (PT and trainings) and the collaboration with EuFMD, the EURL contributes to the global effort to combat FMD.