External quality assurance scheme for Listeria monocytogenes typing
This report presents the results of the first round of the Listeria External Quality Assurance (EQA) scheme for the typing of Listeria monocytogenes (further EQA-1). The EQA covers the Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) method, conventional serological typing and PCR-based molecular typing. A total of 18 laboratories participated in the EQA-1 which took place between January and March 2013. The objectives of the EQA were to assess the quality of PFGE and serotyping and the comparability of the collected test results among participating laboratories in European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and EU candidate countries. Strains for the EQA were selected from strains which are currently relevant for public health in Europe.
Listeriosis is a relatively rare but serious foodborne disease, with 1 476 confirmed human cases reported in EU in 2011. Compared to other foodborne infections, listeriosis causes the most severe human disease.
