EU Reference Laboratories for public health

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The European Commission designates EU Reference Laboratories (EURLs) in public health to support national reference laboratories in improving diagnostics, testing methods, and surveillance of serious cross-border health threats. The purpose is to facilitate data comparability, and promote harmonised approaches and best practices across EU Member States.

EURLs carry out a range of critical tasks to strengthen public health laboratory capacity across the EU:

  • Developing and disseminating reference diagnostics, including standardised test protocols;
  • Providing reference materials;
  • Conducting external quality assessments (EQAs);
  • Providing scientific advice and technical assistance;
  • Coordinating collaboration and research;
  • Monitoring and supporting outbreak response; and
  • Delivering training to build capacity.

The EURLs are designated for seven years and are funded under the EU4Health programme. 

Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 on Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health introduced a legal mandate for the designation and implementation of EU reference laboratories in public health. In March 2024, the European Commission adopted an Implementing Regulation that designated the first six EURLs for public health. A further three EURLs were designated by an Implementing Regulation in November 2024. 

ECDC’s role

ECDC is responsible for establishing, operating, and coordinating the network of designated EURLs to ensure effective collaboration and integration.

Designated EURLs for public health per area

 

EU Reference Laboratories for public health in the field of: Consortium led by: Also composed of:
Food- and water-borne bacteria Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Denmark
  • Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM), the Netherlands
  • Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy
Food- and water-borne viruses Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Norway
  • Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM), the Netherlands
  • Regensburg University Medical Center (UKR), Germany

     

Food-, water- and vector-borne helminths and protozoa Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy Folkhälsomyndigheten (Fohm), Sweden