National reference laboratory for rabies
The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Rabies carries out diagnostics for the rabies virus in domestic and wild animals, as well as determining virus titres in rabies vaccines and post-vaccination rabies antibody levels in animals and humans. The laboratory uses EN ISO/IEC 17025-accredited methods and is included on the list of EU Council Decision 200/258/EC (Article 3)-approved laboratories authorised to carry out rabies antibody determinations. The NRL is part of a group of EU Member State national reference laboratories and regularly participates in international comparative tests and other events organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) in Nancy, France.
To detect the rabies virus, the laboratory uses a direct fluorescence test (DFT), isolates the virus on cell lines, and uses molecular genetic methods such as RT-PCR and partial sequencing of the rabies virus genome. The presence and level of rabies antibodies are determined by the fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation test (FAVN).
The NRL for rabies coordinates rabies diagnostics at other veterinary institutes, such as SVÚ Jihlava and SVÚ Olomouc, and cooperates with the State Institute of Health.
The NRL regularly participates in interlaboratory tests organised by EURL (the European Reference Laboratory for Rabies), which is part of ANSES.
