Laboratory procedures

The main purpose of the EURL and the NRL network for Foodborne Viruses is to harmonise the methods used for the official control of viruses in food. Noroviruses and hepatitis A virus are the primary foodborne viruses of concern due to their impact on public health.

Detecting foodborne viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis A virus presents many challenges. To address these, the recommended methods are outlined in ISO 15216, Parts 1 and 2.

To support National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and other laboratories, the EURL publishes Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that detail specific aspects of ISO 15216. The EURL is continuously trying to improve these procedures and also works on the development and implementation of new methods not currently covered by the ISO standard.

One such area is the genotyping of noroviruses using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Protocols are currently under development, and an SOP is expected to be published in late 2025/early 2026. In the meantime, supporting NGS documents - produced by the Inter-EURL Working Group on NGS - are available via the "Next Generation Sequencing" link in the menu to the side.

Reviewed 2025-09-03