European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites

ACTIVITIES

European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites

Diagnostic

 

The European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites’s diagnostic activities are performed in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The lack of international standards for the diagnosis of foodborne parasitic diseases is a major constraint in implementing a quality assurance system. To date, few diagnostic methods have been standardized at the European or International level (see the Official Documents section).

Therefore, there is a need to validate both commercial kits and in-house developed tests. The European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURLP) staff, on the basis of long-lasting scientific experience, has developed new tests for detection of parasitic pathogens, produced and distributed reference material, and contributed to the preparation of International guidelines.

A list of the test methods developed by the EURLP, in accordance to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017, is available below.

The EURLP also developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), set of step-by-step instructions compiled to help workers carry out routine operations.​​​​

Back Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

A SOP is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled to help workers carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure. Description of each SOP developed by EURLP is available as pdf from the list below:

  • Experimental infection of mice by Trichinella spp. muscle stage larvae

  • Detection of parasites in fish fillet by artificial digestion

  • Laboratory surfaces and equipment decontamination from Trichinella spp. larvae

  • Mouse Bioassay for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in meat

  • Molecular identification of Sarcocystis species

  • Identification of Echinococcus granulosus complex at genotype/species level from hydatid cysts by PCR and sequencing

  • Molecular identification of nematode larvae different from those of Trichinella genus detected by artificial digestion method of muscle tissue

  • High resolution typing of Trichinella spiralis and T. britovi by multi locus analysis of polymorphic microsatellites