The National Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella at the Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera “Torlak” obtained its status by the Decision on Reference Laboratories for the Control of Infectious Diseases issued by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia in 2009, thereby being entrusted with the responsibility to monitor the circulation of measles and rubella viruses in our country.
The laboratory is an accredited member of the Global Laboratory Network for Measles and Rubella of the World Health Organization, and as such, undergoes accreditation checks every year for all laboratory standards and criteria.
Standardized and validated analytical methods developed and verified by relevant institutions are implemented in the laboratory. Rigorous quality control and testing are conducted to ensure a high standard of accuracy and precision of the obtained results, as confirmed by excellent results of external quality assessment (EQA) checks. The analyses are conducted by experienced and trained staff with decades of experience in diagnosing measles and rubella, in laboratory facilities that meet all biosafety requirements.
Laboratory testing for measles and rubella, including molecular characterization of sporadic cases and transmission chains, genotype analysis, and serological testing, are key pillars of surveillance for these infectious diseases, and data originating from expert laboratories are essential contributions to the verification of disease elimination. Early detection and confirmation of cases ensure proper case management and implementation of appropriate public health interventions to control further transmission of infection.
The National Reference Laboratory of the Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera “Torlak” conducts its activities through:
- Diagnostic confirmation of measles and rubella using appropriate serodiagnostic techniques
- Identification of measles and rubella pathogens using molecular methods
- Providing advice and consultations to clinical microbiologists and diagnostic laboratories in cases of measles, rubella, and varicella epidemics, diagnostic problems, or lack of information
- Providing advice and consultations to physicians in cases of severe adverse effects of vaccination and inadequate vaccination
- Collaboration in establishing national surveillance programs for measles and rubella
- Providing basic epidemiological data (incidence, prevalence, etc.) to central epidemiological surveillance services
- Reporting to the World Health Organization on the circulation of measles and rubella viruses in the territory of the Republic of Serbia
- Virus typing in collaboration with other European national reference laboratories, organizations, and scientific societies
View expert methodological instructions for morbilli and rubella.
You can view the laboratory examination referral form here.
