Virology network

The Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology Department employs both classical and molecular microbiology techniques that include PCRs, whole-genome sequencing, and metagenomics. The department is also part of the national surveillance network for respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

Mission
The Clinical Virology Unit at the University Hospital Basel offers a comprehensive range of analyses for diagnosing viral diseases in humans. Dedicated to advancing and validating new technologies and specialized assays, we collaborate closely with clinicians and academic partners to deliver reliable, cutting-edge diagnostic solutions for infectious diseases.

National Surveillance and WHO Reference Center
In our commitment to public health, we actively engage in expert activities, hosting the WHO Reference Centers for Polio and Enteroviruses and the National Confirmation Center for HIV diagnostic testing. Designated by the Federal Office of Public Health Switzerland, we provide expertise in influenza and other respiratory viruses, supporting national surveillance and response efforts.

Laboratory Facilities and Diagnostics
Our laboratory capabilities include a wide array of diagnostic methods, such as multiplex PCR testing, serology, virus culture, antiviral susceptibility testing (phenotypic and genotypic), next-generation sequencing, and third-generation Nanopore sequencing. By combining state-of-the-art technologies with our expertise and strong collaboration with clinical teams and academic researchers, we strive to deliver high-quality diagnostic services and contribute to infectious disease surveillance and research.

The Department of Clinical Microbiology, is a hospital laboratory belonging to Greece’s biggest General Hospital in Athens (Evaggelismos General Hospital).

The Department is divided in sub-Departments:

• Classical Bacteriology Department (blood cultures, urine cultures, respiratory specimen cultures etc., MALDI-TOF analysis, Mycology, Parasitology)
• Serology Department (detection of IgG, IgM, IgA and Ag with ELISA, IFA, CLIA etc.)
• Antibiograms Department
• Tuberculosis Department
• Molecular Diagnostics Department (detection of respiratory viruses, Herpes Viruses, Polyomaviruses, Parvovirus B19 and protozoa such as Toxoplasma and Leishmania, with molecular biology methods. Molecular epidemiology studies for detection of resistance in nosocomial pathogens)

The Department is a BSL- 2 laboratory and is part of the national network for diagnostic testing of SARS-CoV-2

• Clinical routine diagnostic laboratory (the largest laboratory diagnostic service provider in the South Transdanubia region) There are more than 250 types of tests in our laboratory, of which nearly 2.5 million are performed annually. Our institute is a FJ-3 laboratory, which operates non-stop, 24 hours a day.
• Unit of Molecular Genetics is a BSL-2 laboratory holding accredited status for 15 molecular diagnostic testing workflows since 2016 by the National Accreditation Authority.
• Diagnostic palette includes nucleic acid-based diagnostic testing of bacterial and viral human pathogens and automated serology testing (HPV, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C virus, HSV 1/ 2, CMV, EBV, PB19 and SARS-CoV-2 qualitative, quantitative and genotype analysis, SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike and anti-nucleocapside IgM/IgG detection)
• University of Pecs developed the bacteriology laboratory (culturing, serology and MALDI-TOF analysis) in the Department of Microbiology.
• The laboratory unit is also accredited for genetic testing of Factor II and Factor V, MTHFR, APOE and multidrug resistency gene mutations and polymorphisms (MDR).
• Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK) appoints laboratory units for pathogen testing, if the diagnostic or surveillance need for testing exceeds the National Center for Epidemiology’s central laboratory capacity. University of Pecs is appointed for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics and surveillance for the Southern Transdanubian region (3 counties).

The LHUB-ULB microbiology department is responsible for laboratory analyzes carried out during the preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic care of patients suffering from infectious diseases. In this context, our mission consists of delivering quality results within an optimized response time by promoting efficiency, cutting-edge technologies, expertise and multidisciplinarity, and strong interactions with the clinicians of our partner hospitals.

The microbiology department is made up of 6 clinics and medical units, and deploys its activities in each of our 4 activity centers.

The microbiology department also carries out expert activities in the study and surveillance of certain infections in Belgium, and hosts 4 national reference centers (Staphylococcus species, Campylobacter species, Haemophilus influenza and Legionella species). He also conducts research projects in the fields of diagnosis, epidemiology and resistance to anti-infectives.

Laboratory diagnosis

• Molecular Microbiology (Multiplex PCR- herpes viruses, respiratory, meningitis, gastrointestinal, STD,HAV, HBV, HCV, HEV, Borrelia, other)
• Bacteriology, Parasitology, Mycology, antibiotic rezistence
• Infectious Immunology (antibody detection against various viral and bacterial agents)
• Immunopathology (detection of antibodies in autoimmune diseases, allergies)
• BSL2 Laboratory units

Designated by the Ministry in charge of Health, and more particularly by the General Directorate of Health (DGS) and by Santé Publique France (SPF)​, to provide expertise on influenza and other respiratory viruses

Part of the Institute for Infectious Agents (IAI) :

• Microbiological expertise among which virological expertise
• Molecular biology, viral culture, serology, serum neutralization
• Access to BSL 3 facilities

Missions

National surveillance of respiratory viruses epidemiology based on several networks providing samples to be analysed by the CNR

• General practionners
• Hospital laboratories
• Private laboratories

National surveillance and management in case of emergence

• The Department works closely together with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and ECDC to support surveillance of pathogens
• Department of Microbiology is nominated as National Reference Laboratory for Acute Respiratory Infections, HIV and viral Hepatitis
• Infrastructure in the Department: BSL-3

The Respiratory Virus Laboratory of the Medical University of Łódź is located in Łódź, Poland.

Our Lab has the facility to perform the biomolecular methodologies.

The Laboratory was one of first reference laboratory in Poland to receive aauthorization for a high complexity molecular based SARS CoV-2 Laboratory Developed Test.

The supervisory body at the national level is the National Institute of Hygiene, and our laboratory is directly subordinate to the above mentioned central institution.

Laboratory Diagnosis

• Multiplex PCR (Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory vírus)
• Virus culture (Influenza, SARS-CoV-2)
• Serology: Influenza (haemaglutination inhibition assay)
  • SARS-CoV-2 (IgG anti-Spike, IgG anti-nuclocapside, IgM; imuno chemioluminescent assay- Abbott)

• WGS Influenza and SARS-CoV-2
• Antiviral susceptibility assays: Phenotypic and genotypic assays

Laboratory Facilities

• BSL2 and BSL3
• Virus culture Unit; Respiratory Bacterial Unit (TB, Legionela, Neisseria, Pneumo, Haemophilus)

National Surveillance Program for Influenza and Other Resp. Viruses

• Accredited Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory of COVID-19
• University Laboratory, BSL- 2 laboratory
• Part of the national network for diagnostic of COVID-19
• Common workplace of 2 Departments
  • Department of Epidemiology
  • Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry
• Other diagnostic methods: serology, serum neutralization test - only within research projects
• Bacteriology Laboratory is located in the Department of Medical and Clinical Microbiology