TSE reference laboratory
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an international reference laboratory (IRL) for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Our laboratory is also the UK national reference laboratory (NRL) for TSEs.
Laboratory standards and expertise
APHA:
has specialist laboratory facilities and expert staff
verifies diagnostic methods used by laboratories
coordinates diagnostic standards
reports and interprets test and examination results for the diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in mammal species referred for a diagnostic opinion from any country
Reference materials and information
APHA:
holds samples from confirmed cases
maintains a bank of reference materials, including tissue blocks and frozen tissue sections
maintains up-to-date databases on the pathology of TSEs
International collaboration and advice
APHA:
collaborates with the international scientific community
provides TSE consultancy to the WOAH, World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
represents the UK at scientific meetings, working groups and consultations organised by bodies such as the WOAH and WHO
Functions
Laboratory services and diagnostic support
APHA:
has the facilities and expert personnel needed to carry out its role
verifies diagnostic methods used in diagnostic laboratories
coordinates diagnostic standards
reports and interprets the results of tests and examinations used to diagnose TSEs in mammal species referred for a diagnostic opinion from any country
Reference materials and data management
APHA:
holds representative samples from confirmed cases
maintains a bank of reference materials, such as tissue blocks and frozen tissue sections
maintains databases collecting information on the pathology of TSEs
International scientific leadership
APHA:
collaborates with the international scientific community
provides TSE consultancy to the WOAH, WHO and FAO
represents the UK at scientific meetings, working groups and consultations organised by international organisations
WOAH reference laboratory
APHA is also the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reference laboratory for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie.
We have specialist experience in TSE diagnosis, surveillance and consultancy. Also, we have played a key role in confirming BSE index cases in several countries.
National reference laboratory (NRL) remit
The NRL provides containment facilities and expert staff to confirm cases of animal TSE and identify the specific type or strain of disease.
It monitors the diagnostic methods used across the UK TSE laboratory network, coordinates diagnostic standards and stores and maintains representative samples from confirmed cases.
The UK TSE laboratory network carries out TSE surveillance in the UK through a group of private and public laboratories:
Eurofins, Risley: commercial partner undertaking TSE rapid-testing of eligible animals in Great Britain
AFBI, Stormont: TSE rapid-testing in Northern Ireland
APHA Weybridge, Histopathology Team: Histology, Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
APHA Weybridge, Molecular Pathology team: Rapid-testing, Western Blotting
APHA Weybridge, Central Unit for Sequencing and PCR (CUSP): Genotyping
APHA Weybridge, Animal Protein in Feed NRL: Microscopic Analysis Test (MAT), Feed PCR (email: feedanalysisweybridge@apha.gov.uk)
Sample submission and diagnosis
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie diagnostic flowchart
Contact us
For further information, email us at: TSE.GlobalNet@apha.gov.uk
EU reference laboratory (EURL) for TSEs
Between 2001 and 2018, APHA was designated by the European Commission as the EU reference laboratory (EURL) for TSEs.
From 1 January 2019, responsibility for the EURL function for TSEs transferred to a consortium including:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta (IZSTO), Turin, Italy
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health (SANV), Rome, Italy
The transfer took place as part of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.