The BNI is a center for diagnosis of exotic and rare infectious agents (tropical viruses, exotic agents, protozoa and bacteria). It is the National Reference Center for Tropical Infectious Agents and a member of several European and international networks. The Central Diagnostic Unit performs the direct identification of bacteria, parasites and viruses and the serodiagnosis of parasitic, bacterial and viral infections. It has the broadest spectrum of diagnostic tests for exotic diseases in Germany at its disposal.

New diagnostic methods are continuously developed and evaluated by the research laboratories and are eventually incorporated into the diagnostic routine. A large collection of strains, DNA and sera is available at the Institute.

In case of a susppected viral hemorrhagic fever or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), samples can be examinated in a biological safety level (BSL) 4 laboratory. Samples of almost all known exotic viruses are being conserved as reference material. Methods used for virus diagnostics are serology and cell culture as well as molecular methods and electron microscopy. The Department of Virology is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Reference and Research. Furthermore it is a member of the European network for the diagnosis of imported viral diseases (ENIVD) and the WHO SARS Laboratory Network.

Our diagnostic PCR laboratory covers all relevant microbes causing tropical diseases (viral, bacterial, parasitic). About 50 different tests are available on a routine basis, and further assays can be performed upon special request. The laboratory, together with the department of Virology, is addressed 30-40 times per year by hospitals from all over Europe to clarify suspects of viral hemorrhagic fever. The first diagnostic RT-PCR test for SARS-Coronavirus was developed and distributed by our PCR laboratory, as well as the test that became the basis of the first commercial RT-PCR kit for SARS-Coronavirus.

As an important differential diagnosis to infectious diseases, a number of inherited disorders causing recurrent fever episodes have been included in the diagnostic repertoire:

• Familial Mediterranean Fever [FMF]
• Hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome [HIDS]
• TNF-receptor-associated periodic fever [TRAPS, Hibernian fever]
• Familial cold urticaria [FCU]
• Muckle-Wells syndrome [MWS]
• CINCA syndrome, PAPA syndrome
• Familial recurrent arthritis [FRA]

For more information, please contact the Genetics laboratory directly or download information on diagnostic procedures and costs (pdf).