In 1999 VIDRL was designated the Australian reference laboratory
for measles and in the following year was designated as the first
WHO measles regional reference laboratory for the Western Pacific
Region.
The objectives of the measles program at VIDRL are:
- to provide a timely diagnostic service for measles surveillance
and outbreak investigation
- to provide a reference service for measles diagnosis for laboratories
around Australia
- to provide laboratory support for the improved understanding
of the epidemiology of measles in Victoria and Australia
- to provide a reference service for measles diagnosis and surveillance
for laboratories within the WHO Western Pacific region
- to develop alternative laboratory methods for measles diagnosis
and surveillance that may be appropriate for resource poor countries
