♦ 28 September 2017 ♦ Do not forget: Word Rabies Day on 28 September! https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day  

♦ 12 September 2017 ♦ The report of the 2017 session has been sent to all participants this week. The content also includes the answers to the technical questionnaire and a reminder of the EURL recommendations. This year, FAT, RTCIT and RT-PCR techniques were evaluated. Additionaly, an evaluation was done on the “overall assessment” of the laboratories. As done last year, two random samples were included to avoid collusion. These samples have not been taken into...

♦ 12 September 2017 ♦ A call for registration for the inter-laboratory test for tetracycline determination 2017 was sent in early September to National Reference Laboratory from European and bordering countries. Registration ends on 15 September. Each panel contains 6 half-jaws, including the canine, positive or negative jaws for tetracycline. The samples have to be cut and analysed by the laboratories who are then asked to provide the positive or negative status regarding...

♦ 11 September 2017 ♦ The results for the 2017 session of the inter-laboratory test for rabies serology have now all been received by the EURL for rabies serology. A total of 81 laboratories participated this year. Results and report will be communicated to the participating laboratories, as well as the European Commission and relevant authorities where necessary. This test is compulsory for the purposes of laboratories authorisations to carry out the serological tests to monitor...

♦ 27 August 2017 ♦ [Relayed from ec.europa.eu] “EU official control rules are a key element of the governance of the agri-food chain in Europe, which are recognised world-wide as an example of best practice. Those rules provide national enforcers and the Commission with the necessary powers to ensure effective enforcement of regulatory requirements, and with mechanisms that allow the full cooperation of all parties involved in ensuring the correct application of the law...

♦ 05 September 2017 ♦ [Relayed from endrabiesnow.org website] The Partners for Rabies Prevention gathered at Wolfsberg, Switzerland on August 31st - September 1st, 2017 for their tenth annual meeting. The group comprised over 40 representatives from 27 organizations, reflecting a diverse range of stakeholders in rabies control, including International organizations, rabies experts, academics, vaccine manufacturers and Non-Governmental Organizations. Together, they endorsed the...

♦ 22 August 2017 ♦  Organisation of the veterinary laboratory diagnostic in Slovenia: National veterinary institute (NVI) is special Organization unit of Veterinary faculty at the University of Ljubljana. It operates as public institution of national interest. National reference laboratory for rabies is part of Unit for virology within NVI. The Unit for virology is located in specialized facilities for laboratory investigation of viral diseases. NVI performs the activities...

♦ 30 July 2017 ♦ We wish you a nice summer time! The next issue of your newsletter will be released mid-September. Enjoy your holidays!  

♦ 13-14 June 2017 ♦ The beautiful city of Budapest welcomed the participants of the annual meeting organized by the EURL for rabies on 13 and 14 June. This meeting is mainly dedicated to the National Reference Laboratories of the European Union, but a total of 81 scientists from Europe but also from all over the world met for two half days of very constructive exchanges on various rabies topic. Additionally to the usual participation of rabies laboratories, the European...

♦ 30 July 2017 ♦ The results sent by the laboratories for each tested techniques are currently under analysis and the report will be release as usual at the end of the summer. A total of 48 laboratories participated this year to the test: 48 performed FAT, 30 RTCIT and 31 the conventional RT-PCR technique. As explained and discussed during 9th workshop for rabies, this year, for technical reasons, the Real Time RT-PCR technique will not be evaluated. From next year, the format of...