Head: Jana Kozáková, M.D.

• Identification to the species level of equivocal streptococcal and enterococcal strains referred by microbiological and clinical laboratories from all over the Czech Republic and by the National Reference Laboratory for Antibiotics;
• Assignment of streptococcal and enterococcal strains to serological groups A-Z;
• Serotyping and molecular genetic typing of strains. The results are relevant to  epidemiological purposes, detection of the source of infection and routes of its spread, and study of serotype distribution as a clue in the development of type specific vaccines and analysis of vaccine outcomes;
• S. pneumoniae - PCR and Quellung reaction (IPD form);
• S. agalactiae -  latex agglutination and multiplex PCR;
• S. pyogenes -  sequencing analysis of the emm gene encoding M protein (GAS form);
• Detection of N. meningitidis, H. influenzae b, and S. pneumoniae from clinical specimens by Real-time PCR - see Sample submission form and Instructions for the collection of primary clinical specimens;  
• Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of selected strains of S. pyogenes and S. agalactiae isolated from invasive cases;
• Determination and verification of antibody titres against antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease B (ADNB) produced by S. pyogenes;
• The national reference laboratory (NRL) is the guarantor of the national programme Surveillance of invasive diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• Whenever  appropriate, the NRL organizes the programme of active surveillance of invasive disease caused by S. pyogenes and of neonatal infections caused by S. agalactiae;
• External Quality Assessment (EQA) - S. pyogenes : as part of proficiency testing in medical microbiology, the NRL provides sera for the latex agglutination and neutralization tests. The results are assessed and commented on by the NRL.
• The NRL holds the National Collection of Type Cultures for Streptococci and Enterococci. It provides these cultures to laboratories in both the Czech Republic and other countries.
• The NRL holds a collection of  all streptococcal and enterococcal strains isolated from invasive disease;
• The NRL is involved in the development of novel methods;
• To be implemented by the NRL: Detection of the virulence factors in strains of S. pyogenes by RT - PCR  for epidemiological purposes;
• The NRL successfully participates in the international External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS);
• The NRL provides expert opinions;
• The NRL has been involved in lecturing, education, publication, and consultant activities;
• The NRL participates in ECDC research projects, identification of strains for laboratories from other countries and organization of international courses;
• The NRL participates in international networks: IBD-LabNet, SpidNET;
• The NRL reports data to the ECDC TESSy (The European Surveillance System) database; and
• The NRL participates in research and grant projects.