WHO ISA Standards

International Standards for Antibiotics (ISA) prepared, stored and distributed by the EDQM

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Biological Standardisation Programme

EDQM designated as a WHO Collaborative Centre for Antibiotics

(04/05/06) During the 56th meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation, the EDQM was designated as a WHO Collaborative Centre for the establishment and distribution of International Standards for Antibiotics (ISA). The EDQM will take over responsibility for the establishment, storage and distribution of WHO ISA from the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) on 4th May 2006. For more information, please click HERE.

What are WHO International Standards for Antibiotics?

(04/05/06) These standards are generally intended for the establishment of regional or national secondary standards to be subsequently used in routine laboratory tests and assays. For more information, go to our WHO International Standards for Antibiotics database (under the Databases section).

ISA Establishment Studies

Who decides to start a new ISA study? Who is involved? What role does the EDQM play?

(04/05/06) The decision whether or not to start a new ISA establishment study is taken by the ECBS/ WHO Committee. This committee is composed of scientists from different backgrounds who meet annually and who report directly to the WHO Executive Board. The EDQM is responsible for providing the scientific and technical support, and co-ordination of the programme. This entails the organisation of the scientific study, procurement of suitable bulk material, production of candidate batches, storage and distribution of the ISA. For more information on the steps involved in starting a new ISA study, please read the document 'WHO ISA General Procedure'.

Additional Information and Downloads

ISA Safety Data Sheets

If you would like more information on a product, the safety data sheet is available on-line in the International Reference Standards database. These safety sheets are elaborated from bibliographic data available in scientific literature or from information communicated by suppliers of raw material used for the preparation of the standards and has not been independently verified by the EDQM. The accuracy of such information cannot therefore be guaranteed.