LNREMB – National Reference Laboratory for Bivalve Mollusc Diseases

The National Reference Laboratory for Bivalve Mollusc Diseases, also known as LNREMB (Council Directive 2006/88/CE of October 2006), determines,  at a state-wide level, the hazard index for certain diseases affecting bivalve molluscs.

Its personnel has a wide experience in diagnostic techniques, both by histology and molecular biology, and is accredited by ENAC-ILAC to the UNE-EN ISO 17025 standard (accreditation number 946/LE1872) for the following mollusc pathogens.:

• Marteilia spp. detection by histology and cytology in bivalve molluscs.
• Bonamia spp. detection by histology and cytology in flat oyster, Ostrea edulis.
• Perkinsus spp. detection by histology in clams.

Objectives & Tasks

Among the LNREMB's tasks, the following are worth mentioning:

• Reporting any suspicion of the occurrence of any of the mollusc diseases listed in the Directive.
• Contributing to the identification of disease sources through epizootic studies.
• Coordinating with the European Reference Laboratory regarding the diagnostic methods used in the Member States. Training experts in diagnosis according to these methods.
• Periodically organizing national comparative trials of the diagnostic procedures.

Portfolio of services

• PATHOGEN DETECTION BY HISTOLOGY
• PATHOGEN DETECTION BY CYTOLOGY
• PERKINSUS SPP. DETECTION BY INCUBATION IN FLUID THIOGLYCOLLATE MEDIUM (FTM)
• PATHOGEN DETECTION BY PCR-RFLP
• PATHOGEN DETECTION BY qPCR

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