As tasked by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the National Reference Centre for Highly Pathogenic Bacteria (NABA) provides both referral diagnostics and monitoring for highly pathogenic bacteria as well as bacterial microorganisms relevant to bioterrorism. The Reference Centre was founded in 2001 and directed by the Institute for Veterinary Bacteriology of the University of Bern until the end of 2013. As of 2014, this mandate was transferred to Spiez Laboratory.

Referral diagnostics:

• Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
• Francisella tularensis (tularaemia)
• Yersinia pestis (plague)
• Brucella spp. (brucellosis)
• Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis)

Further duties:

• Reference source
• Quality assurance and research in the area of test development
• Scientific consultation, networking and teaching on an international level
• Monitoring, early warning and assistance in the implementation of measures