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Guidance for the Management of OIE Reference Centre Networks

Introduction

The global network of OIE Reference Centres is the central core of the OIE’s scientific excellence. The First International Conference of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres (held in Florianopolis, Brazil, in 2006) recommended that a network of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres be developed with the objective of harmonising and exchanging data, information and reference material to improve disease surveillance and control worldwide.

The Second Global Conference of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres (held in Paris in June 2010) encouraged the networks of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres to continue working together to strengthen multilateral cooperation, in particular with the aim of producing and increasing availability of validated biological reference materials. In order to strengthen this collaboration, the OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres should continue to exchange knowledge, reference materials and expertise to the benefit of OIE Member Countries.

The Terms of Reference (ToR) adopted in May 2011 explicitly require OIE Reference Centres to establish and maintain a network among all the OIE Reference Centres designated for the same pathogen or specialty. More details on the ToR of OIE Reference Centres are available at the following links:

• Reference laboratories
• Collaborating Centres

The OIE has identified the need for further guidance on the coordination of the OIE Reference Centre networks. The objective is to assure unified expert opinions and advice to OIE Member Countries through the enhanced exchange of information.

The network of OIE Reference Laboratories shall assure congruent results across laboratories through the adherence to OIE Standards, the sharing of reference materials within the network and the participation in appropriate proficiency testing. Networking will improve the credibility and increase the visibility of OIE Reference Laboratories worldwide, and will attract the participation of other national reference laboratories from OIE Member Countries.

On a case-by-case basis, the OIE Headquarters could invite the existing Reference Laboratories to meet (physically or by telephone conference) to help to create a network, to appoint the secretariat, and to follow this guidance.

Recommendations:

• Networking among OIE Reference Laboratories is part of their ToR. When two or more OIE Reference Laboratories are designated for the same pathogen, a network must be established. Participation in the network is compulsory for OIE Reference Laboratories. Only OIE Reference Laboratories are accountable to the OIE. However other reference laboratories might participate in some of the activities of the network, as appropriate.
• The network should have a secretariat (officially notified to the OIE) in one of the participating OIE Reference Laboratories to serve as a liaison with the OIE Headquarters. Furthermore, the secretariat is responsible for coordination, leadership and accountability of the network. The secretariat may rotate among participating laboratories (e.g. every 3 years).
• Each network secretariat should provide the OIE Director General with an annual report of its activities : achievements, obstacles, future initiatives (individual laboratories can make reference to the network report in its annual OIE Reference Laboratory report).
• When meetings are organised by the network, participation of OIE staff as observers should be allowed, and the secretariat should produce a meeting report that should be shared with the OIE Headquarters.
• If a discrepancy or disagreement arises that cannot be resolved within the network, the secretariat should inform the OIE Headquarters without delay. The OIE Headquarters will inform the Biological Standards Commission thereof accordingly.
• Conditions for inclusion of a network website link on the Website of the OIE:
  
  
  • The network may establish a website to disseminate information on its activities. The network should formally request the Director General of the OIE that a link to its website be added to the OIE website.
  • The website of the network must comply with OIE rules for graphic layout and other applicable OIE policies.
  • Any major changes to the website of the network should be notified to the OIE in advance.
  • The OIE Headquarters reserves the right to recommend any changes to the content of the web site of the network, as deemed appropriate, and to remove the link of the web site of the network at any time while providing the reasons to the secretariat of the network.

OIE contact point for networks:
Sara Linnane
Scientific and Technical Department
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
12, rue de Prony
75017 Paris, France
E-mail: s.linnane@oie.int

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