Role and importance of accredited private laboratories for the phytosanitary surveillance in Italy: challenges and advantages

In the frame of the Italian regulation no. 214 of August 19, 2005, in line with the EU 2002/89/CE, the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) can accredit private diagnostic laboratories to carry out plant testing with official recognition. The laboratory of the Centre of competence AGROINNOVA of the University of Torino, Italy, is accredited by the regional NPPO for the detection of fungal pathogens in crops of economic importance in Italy (vegetables, ornamentals, grapevine, fruit, cereals). The laboratory has recently engaged in the European Project Horizon 2020 VALITEST for the validation of diagnostic tests to support plant health and surveillance. So far, the laboratory carried out molecular and serological Test Performance Studies (TPS) organized by two different European reference laboratories to detect Erwinia amylovora with three PCR, one LAMP and two serological protocols; Pantoea stewartii with six PCR protocols, and Fusarium circinatum with five PCR protocols. TPS constitute a challenge for a laboratory where technical and scientific competence are compared at an international level and the results are the passport to widen the scope of the accreditation of the laboratory. The role of private reference laboratories is primary in a country like Italy, where the NPPO is fragmented in the regional administrations with different levels of efficiency. One of the most successful strategy to prevent the outbreak of dangerous plant diseases is the continuous surveillance that requires: resources, efficient communication, effective national and international networks between the academy, that can provide the updated scientific competence, and the NPPO.