Head: MUDr. Jana Kozáková
Contact:
724 810 126
jana.kozakova@szu.gov.cz
Secretariat:
267 082 978
267 082 250
cem@szu.gov.cz
The Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology (CEM) consists of nine departments/units, Expert Group for Proficiency Testing, Unit 2 (with a coordinating role), National Reference Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections and Bacterial Genetics Laboratory. CEM has National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) covering a wide range of infectious diseases (A – Z infections) and pathogens. They are dedicated to specialised diagnostics, methodological guidance on microbiological issues and training of specialists in medical microbiology. The individual departments and namely Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology are involved in the monitoring and analysis of infectious diseases, provide services for the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and closely collaborate with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
Centre structure
Expert Group for Proficiency Testing, Unit 2
Units directly reporting to the Head of the Centre:
• Bacterial Genetics Laboratory
• National Reference Laboratory for Lyme Borreliosis
• National Reference Laboratory for Mycobacteria
• National Reference Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections (NRC-HAI)
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Department of Air-Borne Bacterial Infections
• National Reference Laboratory for Streptococcal Infections
• National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcal Infections
• National Reference Laboratory for Heamophius Infections
• National Reference Laboratory for Pertussis and Diphtheria
Department of Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria and Culture Collection
• National Reference Laboratory for Antibiotics
• Czech National Collection of Typical Cultures
Department of Staphylococcal and Food-waterborne Bacterial Infections
• National Reference Laboratory for E. coli and Shigellae
• National Reference Laboratory for Salmonella
• National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci
Department of Respiratory, Intestinal and Exanthematous Viral Infections
• National Reference Laboratory for Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses
• National Reference Laboratory for Mumps, Measles, Rubella, and Parvovirus B19
• National Reference Laboratory for Herpes Viruses
• National Reference Laboratory for Enteroviruses
• Laboratory for Tissue Culture
Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections – STI
• National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS
• National Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis Viruses
• National Reference Laboratory for Chlamydia Infection
• National Reference Laboratory for Syphilis Diagnosis
Department of Zoonoses with Natural Outbreaks
• National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis
• National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis
• National Reference Laboratory for the Detection of Viruses by Electron Microscopy
Department of Laboratories for Disinfection and Pest Control
• National Reference Laboratory for Disinfection and Sterilization
• National Reference Laboratory for Pest Control
Department for the Preparation of Culture Media and Laboratory Glassware Cleaning
Description of the center's activities
Activities of the National Reference Laboratories in CEM are laid down in the following regulations:
Act No.258/2000 Coll., on public health protection and on amendments to some related acts, as last amended,
Document of ECDC on activities of NRL of EU member countries “Core functions of microbiology reference laboratories for communicable diseases”.
CEM is involved in surveillance programs (Regulation No. 473/2008), collaborates with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), i.g. in data reporting to ECDC (TESSy), and participates in editing the Bulletin of the Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology (ISSN 1804-8668).
CEM NRLs are involved in both national and international research projects. The results are presented in a wide range of publications.
The CEM NRLs have been accredited by the Czech Accreditation Institute since 2001. Currently some laboratories are accredited to the standard ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17025 as the test laboratory (No. 1206.4) and another laboratory to the standard ČSN EN ISO 15189 as the medical laboratory (No. 8002).
The CEM Accreditation Unit organizes the External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for microbiology laboratories in the Czech Republic (and in other countries).