Laboratory network description

The Community Network of Reference Laboratories for Human Influenza in Europe (CNRL) has its roots in a collaborative effort to perform influenza surveillance through sentinel networks which started in 1996 with seven European countries. Over the years, the collaboration was further intensified leading to the creation of the CNRL. The CNRL is closely associated with the WHO through its network of National Influenza Centres (NICs) and collaboration with the WHO-Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Mill Hill, London. The CNRL currently includes 38 laboratories (30 of which are NICs in 24 countries) in 28 countries and includes the reference laboratories for influenza from all European Union member states, Norway, Romania and Switzerland.

Management

The operation of the CNRL is co-ordinated by the EISS Co-ordination Centre (EISS-CC) located at the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht (NIVEL). EISS activities have three sources of funding : the European Commission (EC), national governments and industry.

Updated November 2nd, 2005.