What we do

The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale” (IZSAM) is a public health body contributing to the physical, mental and social wellness of humans by non-stop research and testing within the integrated system for “animal wellness and health – food safety – environment protection”. IZSAM operates as a technical and scientific tool of the State and Abruzzo and Molise Regions, providing high added value services and superior knowledge and innovation in the fields of animal health, veterinary public health and environment protection, to safeguard the health of animals and humans.

The main activities listed in its legislation embrace: experimental research on aetiology and pathogenesis of infectious and spreading animal diseases, hygiene of breeding and livestock productions; exams for lab diagnosis of animal diseases, microbiological and chemical safety of food of animal origin intended for human nutrition and zoo-technical feed; epidemiology monitoring within animal health, livestock hygiene and food of animal origin; the production of vaccines, reagents and e immunological products for the prophylaxis and the diagnosis of animal disease; consulting, assistance and health information to stock-breeders on sanitation and the development and enhancement of hygiene in livestock productions; training and refreshing of veterinaries and other operators in the Veterinary Public Health.

All its activities are certified and are undergoing strict quality controls since 1995, when the Institute became the first Italian public Body qualified according to International quality standards for chemical, microbiological, virological and serological lab-testing. The qualification, obtained three years before the deadline set by the European Community, has now been extended to all diagnostic departments. In 2004 even Training was acknowledged to be compliant with UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 standard requirements.

About a hundred of people were employed at the end of ‘80s in IZSAM, which today counts about 500 employees. Basing on its experience accrued on the national and international level, the Ministry for Health has appointed the institute National Reference Centre and National Reference Laboratory. Also the main International Organizations such as the World Health Organization ( WHO ), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) and the World Organization for Animal Health ( WOAH ) have entrusted the Institute with the role of Cooperation Centre and Reference Laboratory in specific domains.