Range of services of the NRC Poliomyelitis and Enteroviruses

• Enterovirus diagnostics for patients with aseptic meningitis/encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis within the context of the WHO program for the eradication of poliomyelitis (National Enterovirus Surveillance) with virological (virus cultivation and typing) and molecular methods (PCR in different genome regions with subsequent sequencing)
• Molecular-characterisation of selected picornavirus serotypes for the clarification of outbreaks (example: hand- foot-and mouth disease) or for phylogenetic analyses
• Control of population immunity and determination of individual immunity against poliomyelitis for a given indication by neutralisation test
• Standardisation and improvement of molecular enterovirus diagnostics (example: specific PCR systems for the detection of the different enterovirus groups as well as selected serotypes)
• Storing and providing of reference materials (virus strains, reference serum for neutralisation test)
• Organisation of proficiency tests for enterovirus detection with virological (virus cultivation and typing) and molecular methods (PCR) in co-operation with INSTAND, inter-laboratory comparisons for quality assurance (neutralisation test)
• Advice for the Federal Ministry of Health and the senior state authorities on poliomyelitis and the complex of enteroviruses