♦ 03 September 2015 ♦

Introduction of Finnish rabies reference laboratory

Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira is the national reference laboratory for rabies. Veterinary Virology research unit operates in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
The head of unit is DVM, PhD Tuija Gadd. The rabies laboratory is run by DVM Tiina Nokireki. We have six laboratory technicians and eight researchers trained to work with rabies in our BSL-3 laboratory facilities.

 
Techniques

Techniques we use are FAT, RTCIT and RT-PCR for virus detection and ELISA and FAVN for the detection of antibodies.
 

Accreditation

The laboratory is accredited according to ISO17025: FAT, FAVN, ELISA and vaccine bait titration have been accredited and this fall also RTCIT will be included in the accreditation.
 

Routine

We examine about 500 to 700 samples per year for virus detection and about 400 serological samples. Bait uptake tetracycline analysis of carnivores is done in our Oulu laboratory for wildlife.
 

Finland rabies status

Finland has been rabies free since 1991, but we carry out vaccination of wildlife along the south-east border in order to prevent rabies re-occurrence and there is a bilateral agreement concerning creation and maintenance of a vaccination buffer zone with Russia in force.
EBLV-2 has been detected in Finnish Daubenton’s bats and we carry out a scientific research project on EBLV-2 in collaboration with Helsinki University, Professor Liisa Sihvonen being one important fellow researcher working at the University.
 

Contact

Dr. Tiina Nokireki:  tiina.nokireki@evira.fi
Website: www.evira.fi

  Photo: Staff present on 26.8.2015:

  On the left: Tiina Nokireki, on the right: Tuija Gadd, in between: Liisa Sihvonen.

  On the background, Tiina Peltonen, Laura London, Merja Hautala, Niina Tammiranta,

  Marika Karlsson, Sari Kiuru and Riikka Holopainen.

  Staff missing from the photo: Miia Jakava-Viljanen (not currently working at Evira), Anita Huovilainen,

  Ulla-Maija Kokkonen and Arja Engblom.