Expert Microbiology

Expert Microbiology Unit

• serves as a national expert unit on bacterial and viral infections, antimicrobial resistance and microbiological water analysis, produces surveillance data and participates in outbreak investigations, also in international cooperation 
• responsible for national standardisation work related to microbiological water analysis
• reports on bathing and drinking water quality to the EU
• maintains preparedness to diagnose and control serious bacterial and viral diseases that are emerging or rare
• works as the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio (World Health Organisation, WHO), a National Influenza Centre (WHO) and a Measles and Rubella laboratory.

Focus areas of the unit’s activities:

• antimicrobial resistance
• serious bacterial infections
• food and water-borne infections 
• mycobacteria
• respiratory tract and intestinal viruses
• measles, mumps and rubella
• serving as a support laboratory for HIV and hepatitis C
• legionella and campylobacter (demanding specialist analytics)
• noroviruses and adenoviruses (demanding specialist analytics).

Contact details

Carita Savolainen-Kopra
Head of Unit
tel. +358 29 524 8884
e-mail: [email protected]

Postal address
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Expert Microbiology Unit
PO Box 30
FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Expert Microbiology Unit
PO Box 95
FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland