National Reference Laboratories 2026: Call for Arboviruses, Measles and Tuberculosis

Key data

Spanish public and private healthcare and microbiological laboratories have a concrete window of opportunity: the Ministry of Health convenes, under the Royal Decree 568/2024, the designation of National Reference Laboratories in Public Health (LNR-SP) in three priority areas of epidemiological surveillance. The Order SND/845/2026, published on 8 August 2026, activates the procedure under competitive procedure.

Being designated LNR-SP implies assuming functions of high strategic value: advanced diagnosis, technique validation, training, international representation and preparation of annual reports. However, the designation does not carry automatic funding, which requires candidates to assess the operational and reputational return against the cost of compliance.

What does this regulation establish?

Order SND/845/2026 convenes the procedure to designate LNR-SP in the following areas:

The functions assigned to each designated LNR-SP include:

• Advanced diagnosis in its area of specialization
• Validation of diagnostic techniques
• Training for other laboratories and system professionals
• International representation in reference bodies and networks
• Preparation of annual activity reports

Access requirements demand that candidates are authorized as healthcare centres and accredit compliance with specific technical criteria for each area. Both public and private entities with registered office in Spain can apply. Applications are submitted exclusively electronically to the CCAES.

Economic and operational impact

The most relevant aspect for decision-making is clear: the designation does not carry automatic funding. Access to economic resources will be regulated through separate mechanisms, which means that being designated LNR-SP does not by itself guarantee immediate additional income.

This has direct implications for any laboratory considering applying:

• Cost of preparing the candidacy: technical accreditation, documentation, possible consortium formation.
• Operational cost of functions: advanced diagnosis, training, annual reports and international representation require sustained human and material resources over 4 years.
• Return not guaranteed in the short term: funding will come through separate channels, whose specifics are not defined in this order.
• Strategic and reputational value: the designation positions the laboratory as a national and international reference in its area, with access to European and global epidemiological surveillance networks.

For laboratories already performing these functions de facto, the designation may represent formal recognition of existing activity. For those that do not, it implies a real investment without guaranteed immediate economic return.

Who does it affect?

• Public microbiology and public health laboratories (university hospitals, regional public health institutes, national centres)
• Private laboratories authorized as healthcare centres with advanced diagnostic capacity in virology, bacteriology or parasitology
• Consortiums of up to three entities (public, private or mixed) wishing to apply jointly
• Directors and managers of healthcare centres evaluating the strategic impact of designation
• CFOs and financial managers of laboratories who must assess the cost-benefit of the candidacy

Practical example

A university hospital with a consolidated microbiology service in tuberculosis diagnosis decides to evaluate its candidacy as LNR-SP in the tuberculosis area. The management team must consider the following before submitting an application:

1. Verification of healthcare authorization: the centre must be authorized as a healthcare centre, a prerequisite and essential requirement.
2. Accreditation of technical criteria: must demonstrate capacity for advanced diagnosis, technique validation and training experience.
3. Decision on consortium: if the hospital does not cover all required capacities, it can form a consortium with up to two additional laboratories to submit a stronger candidacy.
4. 4-year financial planning: given that funding is not automatic, the hospital must budget the operational costs of LNR-SP functions (annual reports, international representation, training) without assuming guaranteed income from day one.
5. Electronic submission to CCAES: all documentation is processed exclusively electronically.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify current healthcare authorization: check that the laboratory is authorized as a healthcare centre, a sine qua non condition to be able to apply.
2. Evaluate compliance with specific technical criteria for the area or areas of interest (arboviruses, measles/rubella or tuberculosis).
3. Assess consortium formation: if individual candidacy is weak, explore alliances with up to two complementary laboratories to submit a more competitive proposal.
4. Analyze financial impact over 4 years: quantify the operational cost of assuming LNR-SP functions without automatic guaranteed funding from the start.
5. Prepare documentation and submit the application electronically to the CCAES within the deadline set by the call.
6. Consult Royal Decree 568/2024, the enabling legal framework that defines in detail the technical criteria and designation procedure.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17370