National Reference Laboratory for Molecular Biology

1. NRL experts

• NRL coordinator

  Ch. Coste Handan, PhD in biology
  tel. 0374.322.011
  e–mail: handan.coste@idah.ro

• NRL deputy coordinator

  Dr. Turcitu Mihai-Alexandru, PhD candidate

• Team working

  Bg. Vanghelie Luminita, PhD candidate
  Bg. Cioranu Raluca, master in biochemistry and molecular biology
  Dr. Moţiu Răzvan-Dezideriu, master in veterinary clinic and pharmacy speciality
  Dr. Tamba Paula, master in hygiene of animal origin foods and public health
  Dr. Constantinescu Ioana, PhD candidate
  Dr. Pricop Lavinia, PhD candidate

2. Correspondent Community Reference Laboratory

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3. Specific atributions

• The specialists working in this NRL have the responsibility for drawing up the handbook „Manual for molecular tests for genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis”.
• They also perform the changes and/or supplements for „Manual for molecular tests for genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis” in accordance with new provisions of Community law and new recommendations of the World Animal Health Organization, established in „Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals”, „Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals”, „Aquatic Animal Health Code” and „Terrestrial Animal Health Code”, as well as the new recommendations established by Specific Operational Procedures of Community Reference Laboratories in the field of animal health.
• NRL experts approve the results of validity studies performed in Romania, proving the reliability of diagnosis and genetic surveillance methods/assays using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• The experts coordinate pre-taking of international standards to be used in Romania and drawing up the Romanian standards for diagnosis and genetic surveillance methods, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• They carry out researches activities, assimilate and draw up the new analytical methods for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• They participate together with specialists from other national reference laboratories on animal health from Member States, to the international inter-comparison and proficiency tests organized by Community Reference Laboratories in the field of animal health and other international accredited institutions concerned.
• They participate to the quality assurance activities and standardization of diagnosis and genetic surveillance methods, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis, organized by Community Reference Laboratories in the field of animal health and other international accredited institutions concerned.
• The NRL specialists collaborate with specialists from Community Reference Laboratories in the field of animal health and other international accredited institutions and benefit from training activities organized by these institutions and by supplying their diagnostic procedures, methods, reagents or standards for diseases diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• The NRL experts collaborate with specialists from Community Reference Laboratories and national reference laboratories in the field of animal health, as well as from other international accredited institutions concerned, in order to improve the diagnosis and genetic surveillance capability, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• In accordance with the provisions of „Manual for molecular tests for genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis”, they carry out the laboratory tests/assays for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• The NRL experts provide expertise for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis in case of inconclusive results obtained by the sanitary veterinary and food safety county laboratories, and of Bucharest, respectively.
• The NRL experts supply the expertise for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis in case of dispute settlement.
• The NRL experts check and certify the diagnosis value of all diagnosis reagent batches and diagnosis sets or kits requested for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis and designate their use by state sanitary veterinary laboratories from Romania.
• In preparation for yielding certain diagnosis reagents or specific products for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis, supplying them for all authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories.
• They coordinate the drawing up of standards and methods for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis used by all authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories.
• The NRL experts perform the annual inter-laboratory comparative tests for checking the capability of diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis, for all authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety county laboratories from county sanitary veterinary and food safety directorates.
• NRL also organize training and continuous training activities, in order to teach the specialists working in the authorized sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories, on carrying out diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned and caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• The NRL experts carry out specific activities for identification and characterization the specific genome of etiological agent concerned and performed molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• They preserve the specific genome of etiological agent concerned, under maximum safety conditions.
• The experts from NRL participate to the authorization of sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories; they write down the checking files and assessment report and verify the achievement of quality insurance system conditions.
• Periodically, they communicate to the European Commission the list of authorized and accredited institutions or sanitary veterinary and food safety laboratories, having specific competences for diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned, caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis, as well as notification of any changes in the list.
• The NRL experts communicate, with the agreement of National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority; the information requested by European Commission, Community Reference Laboratories and national reference laboratories in the field of animal health, World Animal Health Organization, and other international accredited organizations and institutions concerned.
• The NRL experts provide, to National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority and to sanitary veterinary and food safety county directorates, and of Bucharest, respectively, the official information on diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned, caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis with the aim of establishing the national strategies and policies on diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned, caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• In accordance with legislation in force, NRL promotes and implements the Good Laboratory Practice principles (GLP), to be used for applied research studies.
• They also participate to the drawing up, coordination, monitoring and carrying out some actions stipulated by “Programme for surveillance, prevention and control of animal diseases, those transmitted from animals to humans, animal and environmental protection”, yearly approved by National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority President’s order.
• They participate to the establishing of maximum number of samples which are to be sampled for laboratory exams, regarding diagnosis and genetic surveillance, using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned, caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis and the maximum number of samples for laboratory exams done on pool samples.
• They participate to the elaboration of law drafts for diagnosis and genetic surveillance using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned, caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• They also participate to design the technical programs, the national and international projects regarding diagnosis and genetic surveillance using genome identification of specific etiological agent concerned, caring out molecular phylogenetic analysis.
• The NRL experts participate or manage the research activities of national or international research programmes.

4. Activity in relation with Community Reference Laboratory in the field of animal health

• Attendance to workshops
  • 2005 – Annual meeting of National Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever and National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, organized by TAIEX, Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany, Community Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Ctra. De Algete a El Casar, Valdeolmos, 28130, Madrid, Spain, in Brussels, Belgium
  • 2006 - Annual meeting of National Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever and National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, organized by TAIEX, Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany, Community Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Ctra. De Algete a El Casar, Valdeolmos, 28130, Madrid, Spain, in Brussels, Belgium
  • 2007 - Annual meeting of National Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever and National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, organized by TAIEX, Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany, Community Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Ctra. De Algete a El Casar, Valdeolmos, 28130, Madrid, Spain, in Hanover, Germany
  • 2008 - Annual meeting of National Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever and National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, organized by TAIEX, Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany, Community Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Ctra. De Algete a El Casar, Valdeolmos, 28130, Madrid, Spain, in Hanover, Germany
• Attendance to trainings
  • 2008 - Avian influenza PCR, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT 15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2009 - Molecular tests used in fish diseases, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases, Technical University of Denmark, National Veterinary Institute, Hangovej 2, 8200 Aarhus N
• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • 2005 - Inter-laboratory comparison test for Classical Swine Fever, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany
  • 2005 - Inter-laboratory Comparison study on Salmonella detection, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Salmonella, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental, Microbiology (LZO), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
  • 2006 - Inter-laboratory comparison test for Classical Swine Fever, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany
  • 2006 - Avian Influenza PCR Proficiency test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT 15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2006 - Inter-laboratory Comparison study on Salmonella Detection, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Salmonella, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental, Microbiology (LZO), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
  • 2007 - Avian Influenza PCR Proficiency test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT 15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2007 - Ring trial for Bluetongue viral genome detection 2007, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue, Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Pirbright, Woking Surrey GU24 ONF, United Kingdom
  • 2007 - PT Scrapie blood genotyping, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, VLA Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2007 - Classical Swine Fever 2007 inter-laboratory comparison test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany
  • 2008 – Classical Swine Fever 2008 inter-laboratory comparison tests, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, Institut für Virologie der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Hanover, Bischofscholer Damm 15, D-3000 Hannover 1, Germany
  • 2008 - EU Avian Influenza PCR Proficiency test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT 15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2008 - Bluetongue virus Proficiency Test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue, Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 ONF, United Kingdom
  • 2008 - Scrapie Blood genotyping PT, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, VLA Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2009 – EU Avian Influenza PCR Proficiency Test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT 15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2009 - EU APMV PCR Proficiency test, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT 15 3NB, United Kingdom
  • 2009 - Interlaboratory Comparison study on Salmonella Detection, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Salmonella, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental, Microbiology (LZO), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
  • 2009 - Scrapie Blood genotyping PT, organized by Community Reference Laboratory for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, VLA Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom

5. Activity in relation with national reference laboratories on animal health from Member States

• Attendance to workshops
  • 2007 - The 6th Workshop of National Reference Laboratory for viral contaminants in mollusks, Galway, Ireland
• Attendance to trainings
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• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
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6. Activity in relation with correspondent international reference laboratory

• Attendance to workshops
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• Attendance to trainings
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• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
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7. Activity in relation with other international accredited institutions in the field

• Attendance to workshops
  • 2006 - Annual meeting of National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, organized by DG SANCO, Brussels, Belgium
  • 2006 - Workshop on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, organized by TAIEX in cooperation with National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, Braşov, Romania
  • 2007 - International Conference „Animal Genomics and Animal Health” organized by World Animal Health Organization, Paris, France
  • 2007 - Workshop ASEM regarding the control of Avian Influenza, organized by Agriculture Ministry of China, Beijing, China
  • 2007 - The First International Conference in Apiculture, organized by University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca
  • 2008 - The 20th Congress of International Society for Swine Pathology Veterinarians, Durban, South Africa
  • 2008 - Application of molecular tests in veterinary diagnosis, organized by European Society for Veterinary Virology, Kosice, Slovacia
• Attendance to trainings
  • 2004 - Caring out the PCR method and PCR sequencing products techniques, organized by Faculty of Biology, Bucharest
  • 2004 - PHARE RO 2002/000-586.04.06 - Methods of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Veterinary Diagnostics - Bio Rad, Paris, France
  • 2005 - Training in molecular biology tests - PHARE RO/IB/AG/01. Deventer, the Netherlands
  • 2005 - Molecular biology tests for rabies diagnosis, organized by AFSSA, Nancy, France
  • 2005 - Sheep scrapie genotyping using “LightTyper Sheep PrP gene Mutation Detection Kit”, organized by Roche Diagnostics GmbH. Penzberg, Germany
  • 2006 - Rabies Serology Proficiency Test, organized by AFSSA, Nancy, France
  • 2006 - Avian Influenza diagnosis using RT-PCR method and sequencing techniques, organized by FLI Riems, Germany
  • 2006 - Rabies diagnosis using molecular tests, organized by FLI Wusterhausen, Germany
  • 2006 - African Swine Fever diagnosis using molecular tests, organized by I.N.I.A.
  • 2006 - PCR techniques used for diagnosis of bee diseases, organized by Zoophysiology Laboratory, Ghent University, Belgium
  • 2007 - Sequencing techniques and fragments analysis, organized by Applied Biosystem, United Kongdom
  • 2007 - PCR tests for Bluetongue virus and West Nile virus detection, organized by Instituto Zooprofilactico Experimentale, Teramo, Italia
  • 2007 - Statistical methods used for inter-laboratory tests, organized by FIATEST, Bucharest
• Participation to the international inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • 2007 - International ring-trial on PCR methods used for Koi herpes virus, organized by Centre for Environment, Fisheries and aquaculture Science, Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, The Nothe, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, United Kingdom
  • 2008 - Salmonella detection in processed animal protein feed Quality assessment, organized by Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom

8. Activity in relation with counties SVFSLs

• Workshop organization
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• Training organization
  • 2007 - Conventional PCR for classical swine fever virus genome identification
  • 2008 - 4 training activities on “PCR test for classical swine fever and avian influenza virus genome identification”
  • 2008 - Real Time PCR for classical swine fever and avian influenza virus genome identification
  • 2008 - PCR test for classical swine fever virus genome identification
  • 2008 - PCR test for avian influenza virus genome identification
  • 2009 – 5 training activities on “PCR test for classical swine fever and avian influenza virus genome identification”
  • 2009 - Scrapie genotyping
• Performing inter–comparison and proficiency tests
  • 2006 - PCR test for classical swine fever and avian influenza virus genome identification
  • 2007 - PCR test for classical swine fever virus genome identification
  • 2008 - PCR test for avian influenza virus genome identification
  • 2009 – PCR test for avian influenza virus genome identification
  • 2009 – PCR test for avian influenza virus genome identification

9. Activity in relation with other institutions than SVFSLs or legal and private person

• Workshop organization
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• Training organization
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• Performing inter–comparison and proficiency tests
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