The Joint Action was designed to consolidate the outcome of two separate earlier EU-funded projects on bacteria and on viruses. The established networks are linking 39 research and diagnostic laboratories in 23 European countries, to develop an integrated European laboratory structure for these highly pathogenic agents. In close cooperation, the activities of the QUANDHIP partners helped to reduce risk and mitigate the consequences of any such outbreaks or cross-border events by managing and coordinating laboratory diagnostic capacities.