The activities of the NRL for Listeria monocytogenes are the result of close collaboration between the various organisational units of the Institute, from the management team to the staff of scientific and administrative departments, under the coordination of the Laboratory Head. The quality of analytical results is ensured through the accreditation of testing methods, recognised by ACCREDIA in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

Designated as the National Reference Laboratory for Listeria monocytogenes by the Ministry of Health in 2007, the Laboratory’s main activities include:

Collaboration with the EU Reference Laboratory for L. monocytogenes (EURL Lm, ANSES, Paris)

• Participation in training courses and inter-laboratory comparison tests.

• Involvement in technical working groups, mainly focused on drafting shelf-life guidelines for L. monocytogenes.

• Development of a European database of genetic profiles and epidemiological data for L. monocytogenes strains, and optimisation of new methods.

• Participation in the validation of new laboratory analysis methods.

Activities in support of official laboratories and other laboratories

• Support for official laboratories to harmonise and improve analytical, testing or diagnostic methods and their use, including in recent years molecular testing and whole genome sequencing.

• Preservation of L. monocytogenes strains.

• Active involvement, in collaboration with the Genpat National Reference Centre for genomic sequences, in the development and implementation of the database and in surveillance activities on the presence of Listeria monocytogenes clusters at national, regional and local level.

Activities with competent authorities

• Participation in working groups on microbiological criteria within the European Commission's DG SANCO, and revision of ISO methods for the detection and enumeration of L. monocytogenes.

• Collaboration with the Ministry of Health in managing surveillance plans and epidemiological investigations concerning exports to the USA.

• Scientific and technical assistance to competent authorities for the implementation of the Multiannual National Control Plan.

• Participation in the management of the National Veterinary Information System for Food Safety.

• Transmission of information provided by EU reference laboratories.

• Active support to competent authorities during investigations into outbreaks of foodborne, zoonotic or animal diseases, including confirmatory diagnosis, characterisation studies and epidemiological analyses on Listeria monocytogenes.

Proficiency testing

• Organisation of tests for official laboratories involved in the control of food products intended for export to the USA (USDA/FSIS method).

• Organisation of proficiency tests for whole genome sequencing of Listeria monocytogenes strains.

• Organisation of challenge test proficiency trials on L. monocytogenes.

Training

• Delivery of training activities, including e-learning courses, in the field of food safety, also within the framework of WOAH/FAO/WHO Collaborating Centres.

• Organisation of training programmes for staff involved in official controls, including staff from official laboratories and competent authorities.

• Organisation of an annual national workshop to share ongoing activities, future perspectives of the NRL and EURL Lm, and the most recent scientific developments on L. monocytogenes.

Research projects

• Participation in research projects funded by the Abruzzo and Molise regions, the Ministry of Health, the European Commission and the World Organisation for Animal Health, focusing on epidemiological studies, detection, enumeration and characterisation of L. monocytogenes, as well as experimental challenge tests and shelf-life studies on food products.