LAB-Net
At the heart of Ecraid is a vast pan-European 'warm-base' network of hospitals, laboratories, and primary care sites that help us deliver state-of-the-art clinical research services to public and private partners. LAB-Net is our laboratory network specialised in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases.
With sites in 75 countries, LAB-Net has a global presence. In Europe alone, the LAB-Net family includes over 900 routine microbiology laboratories and 16 specialised research laboratories.
Study support
LAB-Net selects laboratories based on the skills and qualifications that best fit the specific needs of each study. Because the network is warm-base, this process is quick and efficient. Furthermore, LAB-Net’s scientific experts take care of the study protocol, sample collection and manuals, the shipping of the sample kits and study materials, as well as the biobanking, analysis and reconciliation of all these samples and strains.
Next to study support, LAB-Net has an extensive biobank and contribute to diagnostic test development.
Centralised coordination
LAB-Net’s network consists of a vast pool of local routine diagnostic laboratories and a select number of specialised research centres around the world. Yet all of the network’s activities are coordinated from a single centralised location – the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology (LMM) at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.
The LAB-Net team takes care of the entire process, ensuring standardisation, optimised lead times, and cost efficiency.
Maintaining quality
Keeping quality high throughout an entire study is crucial. That is why the LAB-Net team provides continuous training that ensures each laboratory site is well-prepared for the needs of the research it has been invited to. In addition, LAB-Net performs all necessary quality checks, e.g., external quality assessment panels and laboratory performance indicators.
The team’s efforts guarantee high-quality results and, very importantly, uniformity across all countries and over time.
The LAB-Net team
 Prof. Surbhi Malhotra Kumar |  Em. Prof. Herman Goossens |  Em. Prof. Youri Glupczynski |  Em. Prof. Greet Ieven |
 Christine Lammens |  Leen Timbermont |  Katherine Loens |  Cristina Prat Aymerich |
Learn more
You can find more information about LAB-Net in its dedicated space on the website of the University of Antwerp. There you can also sign up for the network's newsletter.
Would you like to get in touch with the team? Send them an email at lab-net@uantwerpen.be.