1.Member States shall arrange for the designation of a national reference laboratory for each of the Community reference laboratories referred to in Article 55.
Member States may designate a laboratory situated in another Member State or EFTA Member State, and a single laboratory may be the national reference laboratory for more than one Member State.
2.Member States shall communicate the name and address of each designated national reference laboratory to the Commission, the relevant Community reference laboratory and other Member States, including any updates hereto.
3.The national reference laboratory shall liaise with the relevant Community reference laboratory provided for in Article 55.
4.In order to ensure an efficient diagnostic service throughout the territory of a Member State in accordance with the requirements of this Directive, the national reference laboratory shall collaborate with any laboratory designated in accordance with Article 57 situated in the territory of the same Member State.
5.Member States shall ensure that any national reference laboratory on their territory is adequately equipped and staffed with the appropriate numbers of trained personnel to carry out the laboratory investigations required in accordance with this Directive and to comply with the functions and duties laid down in Part II of Annex VI.