EUCAST Network Laboratories

The EUCAST Network Laboratories form two separate loosely constructed networks of microbiology laboratories with particular expertise and training in EUCAST Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) for bacteria and EUCAST Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (AFST) methods, respectively.

EUCAST Network Laboratories are committed to help develop, validate and troubleshoot EUCAST AST/AFST methods and/or to help train and educate other laboratories in EUCAST methods. These laboratories also play an important role in development of improved methods and/or assist clinical breakpoint development by providing species-specific MIC distribution datasets.

About

Not all EUCAST Network laboratories will offer the same services or skills. Some may specialize in educating laboratory staff. Others may be specialized in tests on particular organisms, resistance mechanisms or in methodological development.

Network laboratories should work in close collaboration with National AST Committees (NACs).

Laboratories applying to be part of the EUCAST Laboratory AST or AFST Networks will be asked to submit quality control (QC) data for relevant strains and antimicrobial agents to the EUCAST AST or AFST Development Laboratories. EUCAST QC requirements must be met before the laboratory is accepted as a EUCAST Network laboratory.

The data submitted through the mechanisms described below, will be aggregated with data from other EUCAST network laboratories and used to develop or validate EUCAST AST methods. Some data may be published in scientific publications, in which case the network laboratories will, by prior agreement, be included in the publication. Other data will be published on the EUCAST website, however data from individual laboratories will not be identifiable, making it possible for the individual laboratories to publish separately if they wish.

Application for EUCAST Network Laboratory for AST of bacteria

EUCAST Network laboratories are experienced in EUCAST disk diffusion and/or broth microdilution MIC (according to the ISO standard) methods. They are also expected to use EUCAST methods routinely and to perform QC on all days when routine tests are performed. Materials (manufacturer, lot, expiry date and date of first use) shall be fully traceable.

Application for EUCAST AFST Network Laboratories (yeasts and moulds)

EUCAST Network laboratories are experienced in one or several of the EUCAST broth microdilution MIC methods (for yeast E.Def 7.3, for moulds E.Def 9.3 and for dermatophytes E.Def 11.0). They are also expected to use EUCAST methods routinely and to perform QC tests on all days when routine tests are performed. Materials (manufacturer, lot, expiry date and date of first use) should be fully traceable.

EUCAST AST Network Laboratories

Laboratory	Country	Contact persons
CibaLab Laboratory EOOD	Bulgaria, Sofia	Alexandra Kalacheva
Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Alberta Health Services	Canada, Alberta	Tanis Dingle
Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital	Denmark	Mikala Wang
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital	Denmark	Ulrik Stenz Justesen
Clinical Microbiology Herlev and Gentofte Hospital	Denmark, Herlev	Barbara Holzknecht
Institut des Agents Infectieux, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse	France, Lyon	Gerard Lina
Department of Bacteriology, University hospital of Besançon	France	Katy Jeannot
CNR Brucella, Service de Microbiologie et Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Nîmes	France, Nîmes	Contacts - Jean-Philippe Lavigne, David O'Callaghan
Ruhr-Universität Bochum	Germany, Bochum	Sören Gatermann
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, National Consiliary Lab on Diphtheria	Germany , Oberschleissheim	Anja Berger, Bernhard Hobmaier, Andreas Sing
University of Verona, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics	Italy	Annarita Mazzariol
Laboratorio di Batteriologia Speciale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna	Italy, Sassari	Stefano Lollai
Florence Careggi University Hospital	Italy, Firenze	Gian Maria Rossolini, Tommaso Giani
Clinical Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital	Norge, Bergen	Torunn Sneide Haukeland
Department of Medical Microbiology, Stavanger University Hospital	Norway, Stavanger	Anita Løvås Brekken
Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, University Hospital of North Norway	Norway	Ørjan Samuelsen
Department of Microbiology, Vestfold Hospital Trust	Norway, Tønsberg	Contact Dagfinn Skaare
Pathcare Vermaak and partners, Lynnwood Ridge	SouthAfrica	Geeta Dajee, Zelda Harmse
Servicio de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal	Spain, Madrid	Rafael Cantón
Karolinska University Hospital	Sweden, Stockholm	Christian Giske
Clinical microbiology, Kalmar Hospital	Sweden	Annika Wistedt
Southmead Hospital	UK, Bristol	Pegah Hafezi
Specialist Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Wales	UK	Mandy Wootton
UK Anaerobe Reference Unit (UKARU), University Hospital of Wales	UK	Trefor Morris
ARMS, Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections reference unit, UK Health Security Agency	UK	Shazad Mushtaq

EUCAST AFST Network Laboratories (yeasts and moulds)

Laboratory	Country	Contact persons
Spanish Mycology Reference Laboratory	Spain	M. Cuenca-Estrella
Unité de Parasitologie - Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Hopital Européen Georges Pompidou	France	E. Dannaoui
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Gregorio Marañón Hospital	Spain, Madrid	J. Guinea
National Reference Centre for Invasive Mycoses	Germany	O. Kurzai
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory	Greece, Athens	J. Meletiadis
Mycology Reference Centre	UK, Manchester	C. Moore
Erasmus MC - Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases	The Netherlands	W. van de Sande
Mycology Research Laboratory & UOA/HCPF culture collection, Dept Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens	Greece	A. Velegraki
Radboud MC	The Netherlands	P. Verweij
Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck	Austria	C. Lass-Flörl
Laboratory of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy	Romania	Mihai Mares
University Hospitals Leuven	Belgium, Leuven	Katrien Lagrou
Laboratorio di Microbiologia Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Torrette di Ancona	Italy	Francesco Barchiesi
Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, Sant'Orsola Malpighi University Hospital	Italy	M. Cricca
Mycology and Aerobiology, Sciensano	Belgium	P. Becker

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