BULGARIA - Regulation, Quality and Standard Operating Procedure Aspects in Strengthening Molecular-Biology Laboratories

General objectives:

• Introduction of international standards on molecular diagnostics;
• Definition of external and internal procedures of laboratory control in molecular diagnosis;
• Organization of the experimentation system of external national quality control coordinated by the National Reference Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology to NCIPD;

Transfer of knowledge through the application of best practices of two EU-funded projects: “EURONET P4 lab” and “Establishment of Quality Assurance for Detection of Highly Pathogenic Bacteria of Potential Bioterrorism Risk.”

Actions:
 The project components are the following:

• Component 1: Techniques and tools on molecular diagnostics of communicable diseases
• Component 2: Molecular methods in diagnosis and monitoring of communicable diseases 
•  Component 3: Assurance of quality, proof of competency and accreditation of laboratories which carry out molecular diagnosis and monitoring of communicable diseases 
•  Component 4: Training courses in molecular diagnosis of infectious pathogens for experts and laboratory  technicians
• Component 5: Study visits
• Component 6: Molecular epidemiology
• Component 7: Diffusion of results