NCDC Lugar PH Center Serology laboratory is responsible for detection antigens and antibodies against various a viral, bacterial and parasitical pathogens, in patient samples. Such as viral hepatitis, HIV/AIDSS, Measles, Rubella, Rotavirus, various zoonotic viral and bacterial infections including Cream-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Tick-borne encephalitis, Rickettsiosis, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Borreliosis, Bartonelosis etc. Laboratory performs the screening as well as confirmatory testing on the samples received from other laboratories.

There are different types of serological methods used in the laboratory:

• Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay ELISA,
• Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay ELISPOT
• Immunofluorescen Assay (IFA)
• Agglutination tests (TAT, MAT, DAT, TPHA)
• Western blot (WB)

Laboratory actively participates in the state and international programs, as well as in number of scientific projects:

• „Maternal and Child Health“ – confirmatory testing is performed of pregnant women serum samples positive for Hepatitis B and syphilis revealed by screening testing.
• „Safe Blood“- HBV, HCV, HIV, Syphilis confirmatory testing of randomly selected donor samples to ensure external quality control.
• Surveillance program, subcomponent Diarrhea - Study of viral and bacterial antigen of severe and chronic diarrhea causing pathogens: Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Norovirus, Verotoxin
• World health organization program – Hospital-based sentinel surveillance of rotavirus gastroenteritis and evaluation of disease burden in Georgia
• Scientific project - Epidemiology and Ecology of Tularemia in Georgia
• Scientific project - Distribution and diversity of Bartonella pathogens among people and animals in Georgia and evaluation of factors associated with the emergence of bartonellosis
• Scientific project - Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile associated diseases in Georgia
• Scientific project - Epidemiology and Surveillance of especially dangerous diseases in Georgia

There is planned a population based cross-sectional household survey to determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection in Georgia. Sampling will be done using a multistage cluster random sampling design. Serology laboratory intends to test samples for markers of HCV and HBV using ELISA and WB methods. The blood specimens will be processed and analyzed as per the HCV and HBV algorithms.

Measles/Rubella and Rotavirus groups of Serology lab are the members of the EURO/WHO Measles/Rubella and Rotavirus Laboratory network; participates in the external quality control program: annually receive proficiency test panels for assessment proficiency testing; 10 percent of positive, negative and equivocal samples are annually sent to the WHO Luxembourg Measles/Rubella reference and Minsk Rotavirus regional laboratory for retesting.  Assessment of laboratory performance and capabilities are performed by WHO experts on-site or remotely a standardized questionnaire. Measles/Rubella National Laboratory is accredited by WHO.

Personal: 4 highly qualified professionals are working in the Laboratory. They received sufficient trainings including in the reference labs of CDC and WHO. Participate in the international scientific workshops and conference.

During the last five years laboratory participated in 15 conferences, have been prepared 13 posters and published five scientific manuscripts.