How do you work with other laboratories and WHO?
WHO has helped us for more than 10 years: Dr Mironenko
WHO provides us with guidance and materials. In relation to the pandemic, WHO sent us the assay and test kit for identifying pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection. (2) It also provided the biosafety cabinet and materials and reagents for two seasons.
Good collaboration with our sister laboratory in Ankara: Dr Ciblak
We work well with the other national influenza reference laboratory in Ankara, and exchange samples on important cases. WHO keeps us updated on the latest procedures and on the shipment of diagnostic kits. We also provide information to EuroFlu [the WHO/Europe influenza surveillance network], and work closely with the collaborating centre in Lyon, France, as well as a laboratory in Paris, on surveillance in eastern Europe. We also have good relations with the Ministry of Health, reporting back on cases and communicating about resources and equipment.
Two channels of information from WHO: Dr Meijer
We receive surveillance information from WHO through the Global Influenza Surveillance Network and the WHO/Europe influenza surveillance network, along with information on issues relating to the International Health Regulations [IHR]. At the national level, our laboratory works in close collaboration with two other organizations. We deal mainly with surveillance, and our partner in the national influenza centre, the Erasmus University Medical Centre, focuses on research and comparing vaccine strains. Right now we do parallel testing of specimens with the Medical Centre. The third organization is the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research [NIVEL], which runs a network of general practitioners that monitors and reports on illnesses in the country, including influenza-like illness. These doctors also collect swabs from patients with influenza-like illness and other acute respiratory infections that are then analysed at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.
Extremely useful WHO teleconference with laboratories and institutes around the world: Dr Ellis
WHO has helped us by providing advice and recommendations on issues such as the safe handling of the virus in laboratories, and by providing a proficiency testing panel which we have used to analyse the performance of our molecular diagnostic tests for influenza viruses and the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 strain, in particular. The recent WHO teleconference, which involved laboratories and institutes from all over the world, was extremely useful in providing up-to-date information on the types of influenza viruses circulating in different countries, and how countries are dealing with the pandemic.
(2) The kits were provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a WHO collaborating centre, in the United States of America, and WHO facilitated shipment.
