10.3 Role of the National Laboratory in the regional verification process

The National Laboratories have an important role to provide summaries of laboratory testing conducted for confirmation of suspected cases and virologic surveillance data that demonstrate high quality surveillance. The information is provided to the National Verification Committee (NVC) in collaboration with the epidemiologic team in the national immunization programme to verify the elimination of measles and rubella [4,5]. The molecular analyses and summaries of specimens submitted from cases should be complete and indicate a highly collaborative relationship with the national surveillance and immunization systems. An important component of the information to include is the documentation for laboratory accreditation according to current WHO laboratory network standards.

Laboratory information ultimately provided to the Regional Verification Commission (RVC) by the NVC should originate from proficient laboratories as defined in the framework for the verification process [2]. A proficient laboratory meets the requirements for WHO accreditation and/or has an established quality assurance programme with oversight by a WHO-accredited laboratory, and/or participates and meets requirements for a fully accredited laboratory by a national or international entity with an established quality assurance programme (refer to chapter 12). In addition, the national laboratories may have responsibility for oversight and documentation of the EQA/accreditation programme among Subnational laboratories. In summary, the laboratories in the GMRLN should fully engage in the national verification process by contributing to and critically reviewing the annual country report and providing technical guidance and feedback to the NVC.