Annual proficiency test
The EURL for Fish and Crustacean Diseases organizes an annual inter-laboratory proficiency test for the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs).
Aim
The aim of the proficiency tests is to assess the ability of participating laboratories to identify the non-exotic diseases listed in Council Directive 2006/88/EC Annex IV part II for Crustacean. Periodically exotic diseases listed in Council Directive 2006/88/EC Annex IV part II for crustacean are included.
Content
The inter-laboratory proficiency test consists of a panel of reference samples. Each participating laboratory has to identify any White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) content in the ampoules according to Commission Decision 2015-1554.
In 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2021, the EURL included the two exotic pathogens Taura Syndrome Virurs (TSV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV) in the proficiency test.
Report
Each participating laboratory receives a report containing information on the virus isolates included in the proficiency test and a summary of the results of all laboratories in a coded version. The participants are informed of their own code number and are thus able to compare their performance to that of the others. The coded version of the reports are available for download.