National Reference Laboratory for Bivalve Mollusc Diseases – Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas

The National Reference Laboratory for Bivalve Mollusc Diseases (Council Directive 2006/88/CE of October 2006) determines, at the national level, the hazard index for certain diseases affecting bivalve molluscs.

It has personnel with large experience in diagnostic techniques of both histology and molecular biology and is accredited by ENAC-ILAC according to the UNE-EN ISO 17025 standard 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

The rates can be checked in the following link. To download the assay request form, click here.

OBJECTIVES

Among the tasks of the NRLBMD we can mention the following:

Inform when the appearance of any one of the mollusc diseases (exotic and non-exotic) listed in the Directive is suspected.
Contribute to the identification of the sources of diseases through epizootic studies.
Coordinate with the European Reference Laboratory, the diagnostic methods used in the Member States. Training of experts in diagnosis according to these methods.
Periodically organize national comparative trials of the diagnostic procedures.