This page gives information on recent activities of the CRL and of the network
of laboratories.
CRL EQA and Proficiency testing (ring trials) programme for 2009-10
Provisional dates for the distribution of material for the CRL PT (ring trials)
programme. Also included are the EQA distribution dates. If you would like further
information on any of the CRL PT please contact us. For further information on the EQA
distributions please contact.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus freeze-dried ring trial RT 29 – March 2009
Distributions for the Vibrio parahaemolyticus ring trial will be dispatched during the week commencing 9th March 2009. Samples
will be provided for examination on during the week commencing 16th March 2009. Results will be discussed at the eighth workshop
of European NRLs in May 2009. If you would like further information or wish to take part in this ring trial please contact us.
CRL proficiency testing for enumeration of Escherichia coli and detection of Salmonella spp. in whole bivalve
shellfish
Distributions for the next whole animal proficiency testing for E. coli and Salmonella spp. will take place during week commencing
24th November 2008. The main purpose of these additional distributions is to challenge parts of the methodologies such as opening,
homogenisation of shellfish and initial dilutions. The ring trials also provide laboratories with additional information in support of
internal and external quality systems for accreditation and audit purposes.
If you would like further information or wish to take part in this scheme please contact us.
CRL proficiency testing for norovirus and hepatitis A viruses
Distributions for the next round of proficiency testing for detection and/or quantitation of norovirus and hepatitis A in
laboratory-constructed samples will take place in December 2008.
If you would like further information or wish to take part in this scheme please contact us.
FRNA bacteriophage ring trial- November 2007
Distributions for the sixth CRL ring trial for enumeration FRNA bacteriophage will be dispatched during
the week commencing 5th November 2007. Two samples will be provided for examination on the following dates:
November 12-16 2007, December 3-7 2007. Results will be discussed at the seventh workshop of European NRLs in May 2008.
If you would like further information or wish to take part in this ring trial please contact us
by 19th October 2007.
E. coli / Salmonella spp whole animal ring trial September 2007
The CRL carried out a ring trial for the enumeration of E. coli and the detection of Salmonella spp. in whole Mytilus edulis
in September 2007, over forty NRLs and MS Official Control laboratories participated in the scheme, the highest uptake to date.
Results will be discussed at the seventh workshop of European NRLs in May 2008.
Sixth meeting of the laboratory network - May 2007
The sixth workshop of the European National Reference Laboratories for monitoring bacteriological
and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was held at the Marine Institute, Galway, Ireland on
May 15th, 16th and 17th 2007. The workshop was attended by delegates from the CRL, National Reference
Laboratories (NRLs) from Austria, Belgium & Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom and scientific institutes in Croatia and New Zealand.
The workshop produced a number of resolutions which are available on this website under 'Resolutions'
in our Information Centre.
Pilot V. parahaemolyticus ring trial- February/March 2007
Distributions for a pilot CRL ring trial for enumeration/detection of total and potentially pathogenic Vibrio
parahaemolyticus will be dispatched during the week commencing 26 February 2007. If you would like further information
or wish to take part in this ring trial please contact us.
FRNA bacteriophage ring trial- September 2006 and January 2007
Distributions for the fifth CRL ring trial for enumeration FRNA bacteriophage
will be dispatched during the week commencing 28 August 2006. Two samples
will be provided for examination on the following dates: September 4-8 2006,
January 8-12 2007. Results will be discussed at the sixth workshop of European
NRLs in May 2007. If you would like further information or wish to take part
in this ring trial please contact us.
The 6th International Conference on Molluscan
Shellfish Safety
The 6th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS 07)
will take place at the Marlborough Centre, Blenheim, New Zealand, from 18
to 23 March, 2007. For more information and to view the preliminary programme
of events please contact the organisers. http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/events/icmss07/index.htm.
Fifth meeting of the laboratory network - March
2006
The fifth workshop of the European National Reference Laboratories for monitoring
bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was held at the
CRL, CEFAS, Weymouth on March 7th, 8th and 9th 2006. The workshop was attended
by delegates from the CRL, National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) from Austria,
Belgium & Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom and scientific institutes
in Croatia. The workshop produced a number of resolutions which are available
on this website under 'Resolutions' in our Information
Centre.
Workshop on Molluscan Shellfish Safety
A workshop will take place on August 10-12, 2005 in Point Clear, Alabama,
US. This 2.5 day international workshop will provide an opportunity for internationally
renowned scientists to report on the most recent scientific and regulatory
developments involving microbial pathogens. For further information please
see the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium website http://www.masgc.org/issc_icmss.
Fourth meeting of the laboratory network - March 2005
The fourth workshop of the European National Reference Laboratories for monitoring
bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was held at IFREMER,
Nantes, France on March 15th,16th and 17th 2005. The workshop was hosted by IFREMER
and attended by delegates from the European Community Reference Laboratory
(CRL - CEFAS, Weymouth, UK) and National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) from Austria,
Belgium & Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom. The workshop produced a number of resolutions
which are available on this website under 'Resolutions' in our Information Centre.
Practical training workshop on methods to detect
Norovirus and Hepatitis A, from environmentally contaminated shellfish- nested
RT-PCR and real time approaches.
On the 15, 16 and 17 February 2005 the CRL will host a practical training
workshop on methods to detect Norovirus and Hepatitis A in bivalve molluscan
shellfish. The workshop will provides “hands-on” training in virus
extraction/concentration, conventional RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR. Sequencing
confirmation and strain identification will also be covered. If you would
like further information please contact
us
Workshop on enumeration of total and potentially
pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus
On 19-20 October the CRL will host a practical training workshop on methods
to detect and enumerate Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The workshop will focus on
the application of a probe hybridisation procedure for direct enumeration
of total and potentially pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in bivalve molluscan
shellfish and other seafoods. Demonstrations of other classical and molecular
methods for vibrios will also be covered. If you would like further information
please contact us
FRNA bacteriophage ring trial- November -2004
January 2005
Samples for the third ring trial for FRNA bacteriophage will be distributed
during the week commencing 18 October 2004. Two samples will be provided for
examination on the following dates: November 15-19 2004, January 10-14 2005.
Results will be discussed at the fourth workshop of European NRLs in March
2005. If you would like further information on this ring trial please contact
us.
Novovirus and Hepatitis A virus ring trial
At the annual workshop of European NRLs, the CRL resolved to continue the
ring trials for Norovirus (NV) and Hepatitis A virus (HAV). In the spring
of 2004 the CRL invited NRLs to participate in a three stage ring trial programme
to be undertaken in July, October 2004 and January 2005. The frozen material
was shipped by courier to laboratories with the capabilities to assay for
NV and HAV in July 2004. Results of this ring trial will be discussed at the
fourth workshop of European NRLs in March 2005. If you would like further
information on this ring trial please contact
us.
Third meeting of the laboratory
network - March/April 2004
The third workshop of the European National Reference Laboratories for monitoring
bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was held at the
Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome on March 30th - April 1st, 2004. The workshop
was hosted by ISS and the attendees comprised representatives from the European
Commission (DG Sanco and the Food and Veterinary Office), the European Community
Reference Laboratory (CRL - CEFAS, Weymouth, UK) and National Reference Laboratories
(NRLs) from Austria, Belgium & Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and United Kingdom. The
workshop produced a number of resolutions which are available on this website
under 'Resolutions' in our Information
Centre.
FRNA bacteriophage training session - September
2003
The CRL will be running an FRNA bacteriophage training session
September 9-10, 2003. If you are interested in attending please let us know
through the 'Contact Us' page of this web-site. Courses will last for two
days and will be held at the CRL in Weymouth, UK.
5th International Conference
on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS)
The above conference will take place at the National University
of Ireland, Galway, Ireland from June 14-18, 2004. The conference aims to
bring together HAB researchers, food safety regulators and members of the
shellfish industry. It is being co-hosted by the Marine Institute, NUI Galway,
BIM, Irish Shellfish Association and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
For further information please access the
ICMSS website here.
Meeting of the EU Candidate Countries
- June 2003
A workshop on 'Inter-laboratory testing with regard to monitoring bacteriological
and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs' was hosted by Taiex (Technical
Assistance Information Exchange Office), DG Enlargement, of the European Commission.
The workshop was held at CEFAS on June 17-18, 2003. The aim of the workshop
was to establish/improve the co-operation between the Community Reference
Laboratory and the partner National Reference Laboratories in the Candidate
Countries and to make the preparations for the inter-laboratory ring trials.
Second meeting of the laboratory
network - May 2003
The second workshop of the European National Reference Laboratories for monitoring
bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was held at CEFAS
on May 7-9, 2003. The workshop was hosted by DG Sanco of the European Commission,
Brussels, and the attendees comprised representatives from CEFAS Weymouth
(the European Community Reference Laboratory), the European National Reference
Laboratories and the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office. The workshop
produced a number of resolutions which are available on this website under
'Resolutions' in our Information
Centre.
Work programmes
2003 work programmes for the biological risk CRLs are available on the Commission
website (link
here and click on biological risks). The work programme for this CRL is
available in the Information Centre under Reports.
Ring Trials for FRNA bacteriophage - 2003
The pilot ring trial distribution for the FRNA bacteriophage was
distributed the week beginning 20th January 2003. Four samples were distributed
for examination on the following dates: January 23rd-30th, February 20th-27th,
March 20th-27th and April 17th-24th. Results of this pilot ring trial will
be discussed at the second workshop of European NRLs in May 2003. If you would
like to register for any future ring trials please contact
us.
Ring Trial of Hepatitis A virus
The pilot HAV ring trial was distributed by the CRL on November 18th to participating
NRLs. The distribution included Hepatitis A virus in tissue culture for immediate
analysis and Hepatitis A virus in shellfish flesh to be stored at -20°
for analysis at a later date. Results of this pilot ring trial will be discussed
at the second workshop of European NRLs in May 2003.
FRNA bacteriophage
The FRNA training sessions have now been completed with three successful sessions
having taking place during September and October 2002 with a total of 23 participants.
Ten participants attended from laboratories across England, Northern Ireland,
Scotland and Wales and thirteen participants travelled from European National
Reference Laboratories.
Pilot shellfish EQA scheme for comparative testing of E.coli
The EQA scheme collaborators are organising a pilot shellfish EQA scheme
for all NRLs. This will take place within the next few months in support of
the requirements of NRLs to take part in comparative testing.
Inaugural meeting of laboratory network - May 2002
The first workshop of the European National Reference Laboratories for
monitoring bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was
held at CEFAS on May 14-16, 2002. The workshop was hosted by DG Sanco of the
European Commission, Brussels, and the attendees comprised representatives
from CEFAS Weymouth (the European Community Reference Laboratory), the European
National Reference Laboratories and the European Commission Food and Veterinary
Office. The workshop produced a number of resolutions which can be viewed
on this website under 'Resolutions' in our
Information Centre.
September 2001
The CRL ran an advanced course for members of the DG Sanco Food and Veterinary
Office (FVO) fish and shellfish team based in Dublin.
