The objective is the establishment and maintenance of capability and capacity for the rapid laboratory-based identification of pathogens in case of a biological emergency, whether it be of natural or accidental origin or due to deliberate release. This forms the basis for any adequate countermeasures that need to be planned and implemented to ensure the protection of the population. The consequent integration of state of the art detection and diagnostic techniques as well as their constant refinement and improvement is therefore indispensable for a holistic biological emergency concept.
The implemented structure is a decentralized network of Regional Competence Centers and National Reference Centers, all of which have been mandated by the Federal Office of Public Health. This network benefits from already existing infrastructure. The network is embedded in the Swiss CBRN concept and is coordinated by the Regional Laboratory Coordination Committee that consists of federal, cantonal and scientific experts. There is a total of three National Reference Centers and six Regional Competence Centers called Regional Laboratories. The task for Regional Laboratories is the rapid identification of pathogens, whereas National Reference Centers are qualified for confirmatory analysis. All facilities pursue civil duties and are put on assignments of the Regional Laboratory Network in the event of biological emergencies only. All cantons are part of the network either as a host canton of a Regional Laboratory (bold) or as an affiliated canton:
Regional Laboratory West: FR, GE, NE, VD, VS
Regional Laboratory West Central: BE, JU
Regional Laboratory East Central: LU, NW, OW, SZ, UR
Regional Laboratory East: AI, AR, GL, GR, SG, SH, TG, ZG, ZH (+ FL)
Regional Laboratory North: AG, BL, BS, SO
Regional Laboratory South: TI
Of note, the two cantons of Genève (GE) and Vaud (VD) share the authority over the Regional Laboratory West. The Principality of Liechtenstein (FL) participates in the Regional Laboratory East. For an explanation of abbreviations, please refer to the comprehensive map presented in paragraph 6.
The network consists of the following facilities that are described in Form A, part 2 (iii) in more detail:
Function | Authority | Facility |
Abbreviations:
NRC: National Reference Center
RL: Regional Laboratory
GDK: Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Public Health
Information on the Regional Laboratory Network can also be found online (website in French):
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/fr/home/krankheiten/infektionskrankheiten-bekaempfen/labordiagnostik-infektionskrankheiten/regionallabornetzwerk.html
All personnel involved in activities in relation to the Regional Laboratory Network is tasked with other civil duties. Many of these other activities, such as development of related methods, sample preparation and processing, training, etc., although at least indirectly of benefit to the activities in relation to the Regional Laboratory Network, remain unaccounted for and are not singled out as being of such nature. Furthermore, the whole network relies on existing infrastructures in use for other civil purposes. Due to these facts it is not possible to sort out personnel costs, cost of materials and consumables, as well as dedicated infrastructure costs for the program, however, it is possible to name the funding sources as follows:
- Swiss Confederation, Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
- All twenty-six cantons of Switzerland
- Principality of Liechtenstein
Please refer to Form A, part 2 (iii).