Navigation and service

Use of cookies

By clicking on "Allow" you consent to the anonymous recording of your stay on the site. The evaluations do not contain any personal data and are used exclusively for the analysis, maintenance and improvement of our website. For further information on data privacy, please click on the following link: Data Privacy Policy

OK

Tracking down pathogens: Electron Microscopy at the Robert Koch Institute. Source: Günter Bredow/RKI

Diagnostics

In an outbreak situation, rapid diagnostics is crucial for identifying the responsible pathogen and initiating measures to bring the situation under control. The RKI offers diagnostic services in several national reference centres and consulting laboratories as well as other specialised laboratories for specific agents and diagnostic methods. At present, specialised laboratories are available, for instance for highly pathogenic bacteria and microbial toxins, for viral haemorrhagic fever viruses and retroviruses. In RKI’s BSL-4 laboratory, staff can even handle viruses requiring the highest biosafety level.

Another part of the RKI’s mission is to identify unusual biological events with highly pathogenic agents that might be used with bioterrorist intent, to assess the implications for the general public and to develop concepts for the prevention and/or control of infections or poisonings by such agents. In 2016, RKI was named the WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging Infections and Biological Threats.

Date: 31.07.2018