From 5 to 7 May 2025, a technical training course for OMCLs on the analysis of suspected illegal samples took place in Brussels, on the premises of one of the two Belgian OMCLs operating under the umbrella of Sciensano. This was the first hands-on training course focused on the analysis of samples containing unknown peptides and proteins. 

This edition of the training course focused on SDS-PAGE and Western blot¹, both widely used methodologies in the field. 

Six OMCL trainees, each from a different European country, attended the course. They were split into three small groups to ensure that technical exchanges with the host OMCL staff were as interactive as possible. 

The course covered the principles of each analytical method, the components of the instruments and software, sample preparation, sample processing and interpretation of results, with the help of in-house or commercially available libraries/databases. Participants were also given a guided tour of the laboratory by OMCL staff members. For the theoretical part of the programme, registered OMCL Network members were able to follow the presentations online. 

All OMCL hands-on training programmes are co-organised by members of the GEON and the EDQM. 

Hands-on training for OMCLs on the testing of falsified medicines has become a regular offer of the GEON and will be continued thanks to the great interest from Network members and positive feedback received from participants. 

More information about previous Technical OMCL Falsified Medicines Training

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¹SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) is a widely used technique for separating protein mixtures based on size. After denaturation, digestion and acidification, the final sample can be analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Western blot (or immunoblotting) is a laboratory technique used to detect specific proteins within a sample. It involves separating proteins by size and then using antibodies to identify the protein of interest.