Search

This report presents the results of the ECDC European Reference Laboratory Network for Pertussis (ERLNPert-Net) external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for Bordetella pertussis PCR, funded by ECDC on behalf of ERLNPert-Net and conducted from April to September 2020. The EQA was organised by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), based in Potter’s Bar, United Kingdom (UK).

This report presents the results of the European External Influenza Quality Assessment Programme 2020 for influenza reference laboratories in the WHO European Region, designed and prepared by the contractor and funded by ECDC and WHO Regional Office for Europe.

This report presents an analysis of participants' results for the 2020-2021 External Quality Assessment (EQA) exercises in the EU/EEA countries.

This is the fifth survey assessing the capacity and needs of laboratories in the EU/EEA, with a focus on antigenic characterisation capability and capacity for SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

ECDC has worked with EU/EEA countries to develop a methodology for regular national reporting of existing national surveillance data on COVID-19 in LTCFs, aiming for maximum feasibility. This is to enable ECDC to communicate timely information on epidemiological trends of COVID-19 in LTCFs, in support of national and EU/EEA-level preparedness and response activities.

This is the first EQA exercise for laboratories participating in surveillance from the ELDSNet network that has been
organised by ECDC since 2015 and the EQA format and arrangements have changed. The current EQA scheme
uses an outbreak scenario with a package of clinical and environmental samples for the participating laboratories to process, depending on their technical capacity and protocols.

This technical guidance aims to provide guidelines to laboratories and relevant stakeholders in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and other countries in the WHO European region in making decisions on establishing sequencing capacities and capabilities, in making decisions on which technologies to use and/or in deciding on the role of sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, research, outbreak investigations and surveillance.

This report provides an analysis of the EQA performance of laboratories in the 28 EU/EEA countries in relation to the detection/isolation, identification, enumeration and quantification of Legionella spp. and the further characterisation of L. pneumophila, by serogrouping and sequence-based typing, from both clinical and environmental samples, where applicable.

This is the eighth report for the 2019–20 influenza season. As of week 25/2020, 164 883 influenza detections across the WHO European Region had been reported; 73% type A viruses, with A(H1N1)pdm09 prevailing over A(H3N2), and 27% type B viruses, with 4 479 (98%) of 4 568 ascribed to a lineage being B/Victoria.