Page 511 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

448 Jennifer Lasley

formats. High-quality and reliable geospatial topics relevant to their area of expertise, while
data, a nimble and flexible platform, interactive also promoting reflection on how national sys-
and dynamic maps, extended data mining with tems can further work towards compliance with
automatic tools for extraction, and genomic data the OIE standards.
linked to epidemiological data, are just some of The OIE works to empower national focal
the innovative tools available on the WAHIS+ points to share information, provide further
platform for all to access. Scientists all around training on OIE standards to staff and to bet-
the world will have access to these functional- ter connect veterinary services operating in the
ities to undertake comprehensive risk analyses veterinary domain but not necessarily under
and strengthen disease traceability and contrib- the veterinary authority (for example, aquatics,
ute to analyses on genetic epidemiology. wildlife, laboratories and food safety).
The global capacity building programme for
national focal points for veterinary laboratories
13.4 Collecting, analysing and has engaged members specifically on the topic
disseminating veterinary of the OIE international standards related to
scientific information worldwide laboratories.
The main goal of the laboratory focal points
national focal point programme for is to support the careful and responsible man-
veterinary laboratories agement of the national veterinary laboratory
network in accordance with OIE international
The OIE provides a global capacity building pro- standards as outlined in the terrestrial and
gramme for OIE delegates and national focal aquatic manuals, in close collaboration with
points. National focal points are designated by the OIE delegate. In practice, the laboratory
the OIE delegate for eight key topics of critical focal point would ideally be the champion for
importance to the animal health system: animal the implementation of the OIE international
disease notification, wildlife, veterinary prod- standards on biosafety and biosecurity, quality
ucts and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), animal management, validation of diagnostic assays and
production food safety, animal welfare, aquatic overall scientific excellence of the laboratory net-
animals, communication, and veterinary labo- work, as well as the safe collection and transport
ratories. The national focal point should assist of biological materials within their country.
the delegate in fulfilling his/her responsibilities An overarching theme of the laboratory
to the OIE, especially in these areas of special- focal point seminars is ‘Creating and nurturing
ization, in order to ensure a standard-setting a culture of safety and quality’, which allows a
process that is transparent and fully participa- deeper examination of the tenets of good labora-
tory among OIE members. tory management as described in the terrestrial
Regional seminars for national focal points manual’s introductory chapters: transport of
are held in each OIE region and for each topic. biological materials, biological risk analysis,
These seminars aim to provide participants with quality management and laboratory network-
knowledge on the standard-setting process, ing. This framework aims to transmit pragmatic
compliance with the OIE international standards approaches to laboratory focal points so that
and raising awareness about regional and global they will be better equipped to translate their
issues and concerns outside of the national knowledge of the OIE international standards
context. The seminars provide specialized and into action in their role as the stewards of
horizontal training across the OIE mandate on the national veterinary laboratory network by

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