SCOPE
- Official microbiological control of drinking and bottled (Natural Mineral water and non mineral water) water, sea water, swimming pool water and surface water for quality and safety assessment so as to protect public health, consumer interests and the environment.
- Applied research for the improvement of environmental policies and monitoring programs.
- Official microbiological control of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to ensure their quality and safety.
ACTIVITIES
The laboratory carries out the official microbiological monitoring, surveillance and applied research in the following fields and works with the following departments and services:
- Surveillance of Drinking Water – Public Health Services
- Surveillance of Table Water - Public Health Services
- Surveillance of Natural Mineral Waters – Public Health Services
- Surveillance of Public Hospitals - Public Health Services
- Microbiological monitoring of the water of the distribution systems of Public Hospitals
- Microbiological monitoring of Heamodialysis units
- Monitoring of Heamodialysis solutions
- Monitoring of the water of the distribution systems of Public Hospitals for Legionella
- Surveillance of Sea Water – Public Health Services, Department of the Environment
- Surveillance of Swimming Pool Water – Public Health Services
- Surveillance of Surface Water – Water Development Department
- Surveillance of Medicinal Drugs – Pharmaceutical Services
- Surveillance of Veterinary Drugs – Veterinary Services
- Surveillance of Cosmetics – Pharmaceutical Services
- Surveillance of “Ezousa” Water Bed – Water Development Department
RESEARCH
The laboratory takes part in the international research program ‘Advance Aquatic Tolls for Sustainable Pollution Risk Management in River Basins of Cyprus – ADAQUA’, funded by the Research Promotional Foundation. Partners to this project are the Water Development Department, the NGO ‘Terra Cypria’ and the University of Brighton in UK. For more information please visit the web site of the project:
In addition, the laboratory took part successfully in the following research programs:
- 96/CY/CYP/CM/270(b) Sub Project: Nicosia Treatment Plant (Mia Milia): Viruses, parasites, bacteria and toxicity testing in sewage effluents. Development of the Virology Unit, Phase II funded by UNHCR. (1995-1996)
- LIFE, 95/CY/BZ/CT/868 MED Development of an Integrated Monitoring and Early Warning System to Sustain the Quality and Multifunctionality of Surface Waters in Cyprus funded by the European Union. (1996-2000).
- “Tracking The Origin of Faecal Pollution in Surface Water”. EVK1-2000-22080, funded by the 5th Framework Program of the European Union (2001-2003).
- “Integrated Monitoring and Early Warning Systems” for the Nicosia Sewage Treatment Plant at Mia Milia – Safe Reuse of effluents. Contract: WSE – FS – 4049 funded by UNOPS (2001-2004).
- “Methods for the concentration and detection of adenoviruses and noroviruses in European bathing waters with reference to the revision of the bathing water directive 761160/EEC” funded by the 6th Framework Program of the European Union (2005-2007).
The laboratory performs applied research within the framework of pilot programs funded by the Ministry of Health. Until now, the laboratory has been involved in the following pilot projects: “Harmonization of the Microbiological Monitoring of Swimming Poll Water with the WHO Guidelines”, “Microbiological Monitoring of Drinking Water in Small Communities which Show Deviations from Legal Requirements” and the pilot project “Risk Assessment of Legionnaires’ Disease in Communal Sewage Treatment Plants”
COLLABORATIONS
The laboratory collaborates with various local and international Research Institutions, such us local and international Universities and international Public Health laboratories.
In addition the laboratory takes part in Working Group Comities of the European Council concerning matters of the Drinking Water Directive.
The scope of accreditation of the Laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 can be found on the web page CYS-CYSAB (Accredited Bodies, Laboratories of the State General Laboratory of Cyprus).