WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Date: 1 October 2025
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ
ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
Dr Karmen Joller
Minister of Social Affairs
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Ministry of Social Affairs
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Suur-Ameerika 1
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО 10129 Tallinn
Head office:
Estonia
UN City, Marmorvej 51,
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Email:
[email protected]
Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Dear Madam,
WHO European Regional Polio Laboratory Network
Laboratory accreditation for 2026
I am pleased to inform you that, following the annual review by the WHO Regional Office for Europe,
the national polio laboratory of your country is fully accredited as a WHO national polio laboratory for
2026. Please find enclosed the accreditation review summary. All technical feedback has been shared
with the laboratory through the WHO Global Polio Laboratory Network Management System.
The Polio Eradication Strategy 2022–2026 highlights the urgency of rapid, reliable poliovirus detection.
To stay prepared for future diagnostic approaches, we encourage continued proficiency with the WHO
molecular intratypic differentiation method and sustained investment in your national polio laboratory.
In today’s complex global landscape, strengthening health security through uninterrupted poliovirus
diagnostic capacity is vital. Ensuring contingency planning and continuity of operations will safeguard
regional preparedness and reinforce resilience against emerging health threats.
Equally critical is compliance with global poliovirus containment requirements. According to the
guidance of the Global Commission for the Certification of Eradication of Poliomyelitis, only infectious
materials containing Sabin type 1 or type 3 poliovirus are exempt from containment, provided that
comprehensive inventories of these materials are conducted regularly. All other infectious and
potentially infectious materials must either be placed under certified containment or destroyed by the
end of 2026, with records reported to the National Poliovirus Containment Coordinator in your country.
Your continued leadership and commitment are essential to keeping the WHO European Region polio-
free. Please extend my congratulations to the laboratory team for achieving successful accreditation.
Yours very truly,
Dr Ihor Perehinets
Health Security and Regional Emergency Director
Division of Health Security
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
Encls:
Accreditation Review Summary
Copy for information to:
Ms Helen Sõber, Adviser, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of
Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10122 Tallinn, Estonia
Ms Agne Nettan-Sepp, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of
Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of
the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin
du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland
H.E. Mr Andre Pung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia,
Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia
–2–
Laboratory: National Polio Laboratory, Tallinn, Estonia
Accreditation Review Summary
Accreditation review outcome:
Accredit: Laboratory meets all criteria
Capacity:
Virus isolation in cell culture
Intratypic differentiation by RT-PCR
Sequencing
Environmental surveillance
Provisionally accredit: Laboratory passed the most recent proficiency test, but needs to strengthen one
or more of the remaining criteria (check off relevant criteria):
Capacity:
Virus isolation in cell culture
Intratypic differentiation by RT-PCR
Sequencing
Environmental surveillance
Do not accredit: Laboratory did not pass the most recent proficiency test and/or did not meet other
performance indicators.
Capacity:
Virus isolation in cell culture
Intratypic differentiation by RT-PCR
Sequencing
Environmental surveillance
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: http://www.euro.who.int
Denmark
Saatja: "WHO Europe Lab Accreditation" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Karmen Joller - SOM" <
[email protected]>, "Agne Nettan-Sepp - SOM" <
[email protected]>, "Helen Sõber - SOM" <
[email protected]>
Teema: 2026 Accreditation of National Polio Laboratory
Kuupäev: 2025-10-02 09:22
Please see the attached correspondence sent from the World Health
Organization, Regional Office for Europe. One or more attachments may be
included.
Veuillez vous référer à la correspondance ci-jointe du Bureau régional de
l'Europe de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé. Une ou plusieurs annexes
peuvent être jointes.
Mit der Bitte um Kenntnisnahme der beiliegenden Korrespondenz (eine oder
mehrere Anlagen), Weltgesundheitsorganisation, Regionalbüro für Europa.
См. прикрепленные письма от Европейского регионального бюро Всемирной
организации здравоохранения (один или несколько прикрепленных файлов)