Activities

The National Reference Laboratory for Listeria monocytogenes provides technical support to official Laboratories, organizes interlaboratory circuits to assess performance with reference to ISO 11290 method (EC Reg. no. 2073) and a specific one with USDA/FSIS method for official laboratories receiving samples from plants authorized to export to the USA meat-based products.

It organizes the yearly National Workshop to share the latest acquisitions on Listeria monocytogenes, as well as ongoing activities and future perspectives for the NRL and the EURL Lm. It cooperates with the Ministry of Health to manage screening plans and epidemiological surveys concerning USA exports. It contributes to the management of SINVSA EXPORT system for corporate registration, production data and exports, supervisions, certificates, sampling on food and environmental swabs by Veterinary Services and Companies. It contributes to managing the SEAP system for the collection of data, molecular profiles and L. monocytogenes strains isolates from the environment, animals, and food on the national level.

The National Reference Laboratory for Listeria monocytogenes works with the EURL Lm in two technical teams: the first team to create a European database of genetic profiles and epidemiological data of L. monocytogenes stain isolates and characterized by NRL of other member States; the second team is in charge of drafting a technical manual on L. monocytogenes shelf-life. Moreover, it is part of the team work on microbiological criteria of the European Commission DG SANCO.