The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance

David Shaw; Raquel Abad Torreblanca; Zahin Amin-Chowdhury; Adriana Bautista; Desiree Bennett; Karen Broughton; Carlo Casanova; Eun Hwa Choi; Heike Claus; Mary Corcoran; Simon Cottrell; Robert Cunney; Lize Cuypers; Tine Dalby; Heather Davies; Linda de Gouveia; Ala Eddine Deghmane; Stefanie Desmet; Mirian Domenech; Richard Drew; Mignon du Plessis; Carolina Duarte; Kurt Fuursted; Alyssa Golden; Samanta Cristine Grassi Almeida; Desiree Henares; Birgitta Henriques-Normark; Markus Hilty; Steen Hoffmann; Hilary Humphreys; Susanne Jacobsson; Christopher Johnson; Keith A. Jolley; Aníbal Kawabata; Jana Kozakova; Karl G. Kristinsson; Pavla Krizova; Alicja Kuch; Shamez Ladhani; Thiên Trí Lâm; María Eugenia León Ayala; Laura Lindholm; David Litt; Martin C.J. Maiden; Irene Martin; Delphine Martiny; Wesley Mattheus; Noel D. McCarthy; Mary Meehan; Susan Meiring; Paula Mölling; Eva Morfeldt; Julie Morgan; Robert Mulhall; Carmen Muñoz-Almagro; David Murdoch; Martin Musilek; Ludmila Novakova; Shahin Oftadeh; Amaresh Perez-Arguello; Maria Dolores Pérez-Vázquez; Monique Perrin; Benoit Prevost; Maria Roberts; Assaf Rokney; Merav Ron; Olga Marina Sanabria; Kevin J. Scott; Julio Sempere; Lotta Siira; Ana Paula Silva de Lemos; Vitali Sintchenko; Anna Skoczyńska; Hans Christian Slotved; Andrew J. Smith; Muhamed Kheir Taha; Maija Toropainen; Georgina Tzanakaki; Anni Vainio; Mark P.G. van der Linden; Nina M. van Sorge; Emmanuelle Varon; Julio Vazquez Moreno; Sandra Vohrnova; Anne von Gottberg; Jose Yuste; Angela B. Brueggemann

doi:10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3

The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance

David Shaw, Raquel Abad Torreblanca, Zahin Amin-Chowdhury, Adriana Bautista, Desiree Bennett, Karen Broughton, Carlo Casanova, Eun Hwa Choi, Heike Claus, Mary Corcoran, Simon Cottrell, Robert Cunney, Lize Cuypers, Tine Dalby, Heather Davies, Linda de Gouveia, Ala Eddine Deghmane, Stefanie Desmet, Mirian Domenech, Richard DrewMignon du Plessis, Carolina Duarte, Kurt Fuursted, Alyssa Golden, Samanta Cristine Grassi Almeida, Desiree Henares, Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Markus Hilty, Steen Hoffmann, Hilary Humphreys, Susanne Jacobsson, Christopher Johnson, Keith A. Jolley, Aníbal Kawabata, Jana Kozakova, Karl G. Kristinsson, Pavla Krizova, Alicja Kuch, Shamez Ladhani, Thiên Trí Lâm, María Eugenia León Ayala, Laura Lindholm, David Litt, Martin C.J. Maiden, Irene Martin, Delphine Martiny, Wesley Mattheus, Noel D. McCarthy, Mary Meehan, Susan Meiring, Paula Mölling, Eva Morfeldt, Julie Morgan, Robert Mulhall, Carmen Muñoz-Almagro, David Murdoch, Martin Musilek, Ludmila Novakova, Shahin Oftadeh, Amaresh Perez-Arguello, Maria Dolores Pérez-Vázquez, Monique Perrin, Benoit Prevost, Maria Roberts, Assaf Rokney, Merav Ron, Olga Marina Sanabria, Kevin J. Scott, Julio Sempere, Lotta Siira, Ana Paula Silva de Lemos, Vitali Sintchenko, Anna Skoczyńska, Hans Christian Slotved, Andrew J. Smith, Muhamed Kheir Taha, Maija Toropainen, Georgina Tzanakaki, Anni Vainio, Mark P.G. van der Linden, Nina M. van Sorge, Emmanuelle Varon, Julio Vazquez Moreno, Sandra Vohrnova, Anne von Gottberg, Jose Yuste, Angela B. Brueggemann^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health. We also highlight the value of surveillance initiatives among collaborative international partners, who work together to share, analyse, and interpret data, and then disseminate their findings in a timely manner. Microbiology reference laboratories have substantial impact at regional, national, and international levels, and sustained support for these laboratories is essential for public health in both pandemic and non-pandemic times.

Original language	English
Journal	The Lancet Digital Health
Volume	Online First
ISSN	2589-7500
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3
Publication status	Published - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Link to document

10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3

Cite this

Shaw, D., Torreblanca, R. A., Amin-Chowdhury, Z., Bautista, A., Bennett, D., Broughton, K., Casanova, C., Choi, E. H., Claus, H., Corcoran, M., Cottrell, S., Cunney, R., Cuypers, L., Dalby, T., Davies, H., de Gouveia, L., Deghmane, A. E., Desmet, S., Domenech, M., ... Brueggemann, A. B. (2025). The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance. The Lancet Digital Health, Online First. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3

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title = "The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance",

abstract = "Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health. We also highlight the value of surveillance initiatives among collaborative international partners, who work together to share, analyse, and interpret data, and then disseminate their findings in a timely manner. Microbiology reference laboratories have substantial impact at regional, national, and international levels, and sustained support for these laboratories is essential for public health in both pandemic and non-pandemic times.",

author = "David Shaw and Torreblanca, {Raquel Abad} and Zahin Amin-Chowdhury and Adriana Bautista and Desiree Bennett and Karen Broughton and Carlo Casanova and Choi, {Eun Hwa} and Heike Claus and Mary Corcoran and Simon Cottrell and Robert Cunney and Lize Cuypers and Tine Dalby and Heather Davies and {de Gouveia}, Linda and Deghmane, {Ala Eddine} and Stefanie Desmet and Mirian Domenech and Richard Drew and Plessis, {Mignon du} and Carolina Duarte and Kurt Fuursted and Alyssa Golden and Almeida, {Samanta Cristine Grassi} and Desiree Henares and Birgitta Henriques-Normark and Markus Hilty and Steen Hoffmann and Hilary Humphreys and Susanne Jacobsson and Christopher Johnson and Jolley, {Keith A.} and An{\'i}bal Kawabata and Jana Kozakova and Kristinsson, {Karl G.} and Pavla Krizova and Alicja Kuch and Shamez Ladhani and L{\^a}m, {Thi{\^e}n Tr{\'i}} and Ayala, {Mar{\'i}a Eugenia Le{\'o}n} and Laura Lindholm and David Litt and Maiden, {Martin C.J.} and Irene Martin and Delphine Martiny and Wesley Mattheus and McCarthy, {Noel D.} and Mary Meehan and Susan Meiring and Paula M{\"o}lling and Eva Morfeldt and Julie Morgan and Robert Mulhall and Carmen Mu{\~n}oz-Almagro and David Murdoch and Martin Musilek and Ludmila Novakova and Shahin Oftadeh and Amaresh Perez-Arguello and P{\'e}rez-V{\'a}zquez, {Maria Dolores} and Monique Perrin and Benoit Prevost and Maria Roberts and Assaf Rokney and Merav Ron and Sanabria, {Olga Marina} and Scott, {Kevin J.} and Julio Sempere and Lotta Siira and {de Lemos}, {Ana Paula Silva} and Vitali Sintchenko and Anna Skoczy{\'n}ska and Slotved, {Hans Christian} and Smith, {Andrew J.} and Taha, {Muhamed Kheir} and Maija Toropainen and Georgina Tzanakaki and Anni Vainio and {van der Linden}, {Mark P.G.} and {van Sorge}, {Nina M.} and Emmanuelle Varon and Moreno, {Julio Vazquez} and Sandra Vohrnova and {von Gottberg}, Anne and Jose Yuste and Brueggemann, {Angela B.}",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3",

language = "English",

volume = "Online First",

journal = "The Lancet Digital Health",

issn = "2589-7500",

}

Shaw, D, Torreblanca, RA, Amin-Chowdhury, Z, Bautista, A, Bennett, D, Broughton, K, Casanova, C, Choi, EH, Claus, H, Corcoran, M, Cottrell, S, Cunney, R, Cuypers, L, Dalby, T, Davies, H, de Gouveia, L, Deghmane, AE, Desmet, S, Domenech, M, Drew, R, Plessis, MD, Duarte, C, Fuursted, K, Golden, A, Almeida, SCG, Henares, D, Henriques-Normark, B, Hilty, M, Hoffmann, S, Humphreys, H, Jacobsson, S, Johnson, C, Jolley, KA, Kawabata, A, Kozakova, J, Kristinsson, KG, Krizova, P, Kuch, A, Ladhani, S, Lâm, TT, Ayala, MEL, Lindholm, L, Litt, D, Maiden, MCJ, Martin, I, Martiny, D, Mattheus, W, McCarthy, ND, Meehan, M, Meiring, S, Mölling, P, Morfeldt, E, Morgan, J, Mulhall, R, Muñoz-Almagro, C, Murdoch, D, Musilek, M, Novakova, L, Oftadeh, S, Perez-Arguello, A, Pérez-Vázquez, MD, Perrin, M, Prevost, B, Roberts, M, Rokney, A, Ron, M, Sanabria, OM, Scott, KJ, Sempere, J, Siira, L, de Lemos, APS, Sintchenko, V, Skoczyńska, A, Slotved, HC, Smith, AJ, Taha, MK, Toropainen, M, Tzanakaki, G, Vainio, A, van der Linden, MPG, van Sorge, NM, Varon, E, Moreno, JV, Vohrnova, S, von Gottberg, A, Yuste, J & Brueggemann, AB 2025, 'The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance', The Lancet Digital Health, vol. Online First. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3

TY - JOUR

T1 - The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance

AU - Shaw, David

AU - Torreblanca, Raquel Abad

AU - Amin-Chowdhury, Zahin

AU - Bautista, Adriana

AU - Bennett, Desiree

AU - Broughton, Karen

AU - Casanova, Carlo

AU - Choi, Eun Hwa

AU - Claus, Heike

AU - Corcoran, Mary

AU - Cottrell, Simon

AU - Cunney, Robert

AU - Cuypers, Lize

AU - Dalby, Tine

AU - Davies, Heather

AU - de Gouveia, Linda

AU - Deghmane, Ala Eddine

AU - Desmet, Stefanie

AU - Domenech, Mirian

AU - Drew, Richard

AU - Plessis, Mignon du

AU - Duarte, Carolina

AU - Fuursted, Kurt

AU - Golden, Alyssa

AU - Almeida, Samanta Cristine Grassi

AU - Henares, Desiree

AU - Henriques-Normark, Birgitta

AU - Hilty, Markus

AU - Hoffmann, Steen

AU - Humphreys, Hilary

AU - Jacobsson, Susanne

AU - Johnson, Christopher

AU - Jolley, Keith A.

AU - Kawabata, Aníbal

AU - Kozakova, Jana

AU - Kristinsson, Karl G.

AU - Krizova, Pavla

AU - Kuch, Alicja

AU - Ladhani, Shamez

AU - Lâm, Thiên Trí

AU - Ayala, María Eugenia León

AU - Lindholm, Laura

AU - Litt, David

AU - Maiden, Martin C.J.

AU - Martin, Irene

AU - Martiny, Delphine

AU - Mattheus, Wesley

AU - McCarthy, Noel D.

AU - Meehan, Mary

AU - Meiring, Susan

AU - Mölling, Paula

AU - Morfeldt, Eva

AU - Morgan, Julie

AU - Mulhall, Robert

AU - Muñoz-Almagro, Carmen

AU - Murdoch, David

AU - Musilek, Martin

AU - Novakova, Ludmila

AU - Oftadeh, Shahin

AU - Perez-Arguello, Amaresh

AU - Pérez-Vázquez, Maria Dolores

AU - Perrin, Monique

AU - Prevost, Benoit

AU - Roberts, Maria

AU - Rokney, Assaf

AU - Ron, Merav

AU - Sanabria, Olga Marina

AU - Scott, Kevin J.

AU - Sempere, Julio

AU - Siira, Lotta

AU - de Lemos, Ana Paula Silva

AU - Sintchenko, Vitali

AU - Skoczyńska, Anna

AU - Slotved, Hans Christian

AU - Smith, Andrew J.

AU - Taha, Muhamed Kheir

AU - Toropainen, Maija

AU - Tzanakaki, Georgina

AU - Vainio, Anni

AU - van der Linden, Mark P.G.

AU - van Sorge, Nina M.

AU - Varon, Emmanuelle

AU - Moreno, Julio Vazquez

AU - Vohrnova, Sandra

AU - von Gottberg, Anne

AU - Yuste, Jose

AU - Brueggemann, Angela B.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health. We also highlight the value of surveillance initiatives among collaborative international partners, who work together to share, analyse, and interpret data, and then disseminate their findings in a timely manner. Microbiology reference laboratories have substantial impact at regional, national, and international levels, and sustained support for these laboratories is essential for public health in both pandemic and non-pandemic times.

AB - Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health. We also highlight the value of surveillance initiatives among collaborative international partners, who work together to share, analyse, and interpret data, and then disseminate their findings in a timely manner. Microbiology reference laboratories have substantial impact at regional, national, and international levels, and sustained support for these laboratories is essential for public health in both pandemic and non-pandemic times.

U2 - 10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3

DO - 10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00241-3

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 39709282

AN - SCOPUS:85214347985

SN - 2589-7500

VL - Online First

JO - The Lancet Digital Health

JF - The Lancet Digital Health

ER -