Analysis of highly pathogenic agents from environmental samples

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The Regional Laboratory South (LR South) for Biosafety is part of the Swiss Regional Laboratory Network (RLN) and acts as a regional antenna for biological events (B alerts) in support of the National Reference Centres, allowing the decentralisation of early analytic assessments and the selective analysis of the most dangerous microorganisms.
We are qualified to investigate the presence of pathogens dangerous to humans and/or animals from different sample sources:
  • Detection of potential bioterrorist agents (e.g. Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella spp.) in the context of biological events and upon request from the canton.
  • Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 virus in samples of environmental origin (e.g. surfaces, air, wastewater).
  • Analysis of bird faeces in the event of an avian influenza outbreak.
  • Analysis of pathogens in vector organisms
    • arboviruses potentially transmitted by mosquitoes (e.g. Zika, West Nile virus, Usutu, dengue and chikungunya)
    • viruses potentially transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides (e.g. Buetongue virus)
    • Pathogens transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies (e.g. Leishmania sp.)

Microbiological analyses for group 3 pathogens in environmental samples are authorised by Swissmedic in accordance with the Ordinance on Microbiology Laboratories (818.101.32).

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