Division 4 Analysis and serotyping of samples

Analysis and serotyping of samples shall take place at the national reference laboratory (NRL). Where the NRL does not have the capacity to perform all analyses or if it is not the laboratory that performs detection routinely, the competent authorities may decide to designate a limited number of other laboratories involved in official controls of Salmonella to perform the analyses.

Those laboratories must have proven experience of using the required detection method and have a quality assurance system complying with ISO standard 17025 and be subject to the supervision of the NRL.

At the laboratory, samples shall be kept refrigerated until bacteriological examination, which shall be carried out within 24 hours following receipt of the samples so that analysis is initiated no later than 96 hours following the time of collection of the samples.