In October 1994, the FAO World Reference Laboratory for Rinderpest (WRLR) was established at the Istitute for Animal Health, Pirbright, UK. The main aims of the WRLR are to provide a diagnostic service for all countries involved in the Rinderpest Eradication Campaigns; establish a library of rinderpest virus strains; undertake molecular epidemiological studies to identify origins of outbreaks and further understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and to introduce standardisation of the diagnostic techniques used in rinderpest diagnosis. This rinderpest diagnostic service is provided free to all member countries of the FAO. In order to fulfill this role, it is imperative that the WRLR receives as many samples, in the best possible condition, as possible to create a library of rinderpest virus strains and enable molecular epidemiological studies
