Division 2.1 Laboratories

Analysis and subtyping of MRSA shall take place in experienced laboratories. This shall preferably be the National Reference Laboratories (NRL’s) for Staphylococcus aureus and/or antimicrobial resistance in the Member States. In case the NRL does not have the capacity or experience to perform the analyses or if it is not the laboratory that performs detection routinely, the competent authority shall decide to designate other experienced laboratories or a NRL in another Member State to perform the analyses. These laboratories shall have proven experience of using the required methods and have an accreditation system in place according to ISO 17025. An up-to-date list of authorised laboratories can be consulted on the website of the Community Reference Laboratory for antimicrobial resistance (CRL-AR) in Copenhagen, Denmark.