NRL for Escherichia coli

With effect from 30 April 2020, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Escherichia coli was approved at SVÚ Praha (the State Veterinary Institute) by the Ministry of Agriculture .

The NRL for E. coli pursues diagnostic and consulting activities in the sphere of infections caused by the Escherichia coli bacteria in animals and in foodstuff. The NRL cooperates with EURL (EU RL for Escherichia coli, including verotoxigenic E. coli VTEC, Roma, Italy) and manages the official laboratories. An important activity is cooperation in the preparation and implementation of the SVS methodological instructions, which set out the rules for regular microbiological testing of zoonotic agents carried out by the State Veterinary Surveillance in enterprises in accordance with the legislation in force.

The methodological and diagnostic preparedness is annually verified by participation in international comparative testing organised by the EU Reference Laboratory. The NRL organises interlaboratory testing for the detection of significant serogroups and genes for the production of Shiga toxins 1,2 and intimin for official laboratories within the Czech Republic.

The NRL operates within a quality control system and is accredited under CSN EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2018.