The National Reference Laboratory for coagulase-positive Staphylococci examines isolates from food samples and animal samples as well as human stool samples in cases of suspected intoxication or outbreaks. The national tasks include cooperation with the laboratories for food testing, maintaining a master collection, cooperation and advisory activities in the clarification of infection chains and outbreak clarification. International activities include, in particular, collaboration with the European Union Reference Laboratory for Coagulase Positive Staphylococci at ANSES (Agence Nationale de Sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail) in France.

• Identification and characterization of staphylococcal isolates;
• Biochemical or genotypic detection of toxin production capacity (staphylococcal enterotoxin A-E);
• Detection of the following genes by conventional PCR
  • staphylococcal enterotoxin A-E
  • Exfoliative toxin A/B
  • Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin
  • panton-valentine leukocidin
  • mecA / mecC of the SCCmec cassette of MRSA
• spa typing (detection of contiguous food contamination);