5th Hands-on Training Workshop on Laboratory Diagnosis of Measles and Rubella Focusing on Molecular Detection and Sequence Analysis
29 October - 3 November 2012 - Hong Kong (China)
Backgroung Information
The WHO measles and rubella laboratory network has played a critical role in monitoring the progress of measles elimination and rubella control by confirming measles and rubella cases, as well as establishing genotyping and providing molecular epidemiological data for decision-makers in national immunization programmes. Timeliness in providing reliable laboratory data is critical to identify and respond to imported or endemic measles transmission, particularly as the Region approaches the goal of measles elimination.
This training workshop will further strengthen capacity for the molecular detection of measles and rubella viruses using new real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as conventional PCR and sequencing capacity. The network laboratories with molecular capacities, which can benefit from this training workshop, will be invited. After this training workshop, the Region's capacity for molecular detection, genotyping and sequence analysis of measles and rubella viruses will be further enhanced and the timely detection and analysis of circulating strains using standardized protocol using appropriate control will be possible in the Region.
Objectives
- To enhance knowledge and skills of WHO regional reference and selected national measles and rubella laboratory staff in:
- molecular detection of measles and rubella viruses using the new real-time PCR and sequencing
- laboratory quality assurance of molecular detection of measles and rubella virus
- sequence data analysis of measles and rubella data analysis
- To discuss and practise the procedures of deposit of measles and rubella genotype and sequence data to MeaNS (measles nucleotide sequence) and the WHO genotype database.