in 1995, in agreement with the German Federal Ministry of Health, the Robert Koch Institute established apublic health microbiology system consisting of national reference centers (NRCs) and consiliary labora-tories (CLs). The goal was to improve the efficiency of infection protection by advising the authorities onpossible measures and to supplement infectious disease surveillance by monitoring selected pathogensthat have high public health relevance. Currently, there are 19 NRCs and 40 CLs, each appointed for threeyears. In 2009, an additional system of national networks of NRCs and CLs was set up in order to enhanceeffectiveness and cooperation within the national reference laboratory system. The aim of these networkswas to advance exchange in diagnostic methods and prevention concepts among reference laboratoriesand to develop geographic coverage of services. In the last two decades, the German public health labo-ratory reference system coped with all major infectious disease challenges. The European Union and theEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are considering implementing a Europeanpublic health microbiology reference laboratory system. The German reference laboratory system shouldbe well prepared to participate actively in this upcoming endeavor.