title: Development and application of MLVA methods as a tool for inter-laboratory surveillance.
abstract: Multiple-locus variable-number of tandem-repeats analysis (MLVA) has emerged as a valuable method for subtyping bacterial pathogens and has been adopted in many countries as a critical component of their laboratory-based surveillance. Lack of harmonisation and standardisation of the method, however, has made comparison of results generated in different laboratories difficult, if not impossible, and has therefore hampered its use in international surveillance. This paper proposes an international consensus on the development, validation, nomenclature and quality control for MLVA used for molecular surveillance and outbreak detection based on a review of the current state of knowledge.
authors.affiliation: National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nadon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trees
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Møller Nielsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerner-Smidt
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D032921:Consensus; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011786:Quality Control; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*