The national reference laboratories are one of the tools used by public health authorities to control infectious diseases. The Swiss Confederation supports 9 national reference centers (NC), each dealing with a limited number of infectious agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if this network meets present day needs, whether it has to be redefined, and how it can be improved. Using the Delphi technique, 34 experts in the field of infectious diseases were questioned to establish a concept for NC in Switzerland. The main result of this study is that official reference laboratories are considered necessary. However, depending on the type of infectious agent, the following types of laboratories should be used: national reference centers, specialized laboratories and laboratories abroad. The study also defined criteria for the designation of NC, their field of action (general objectives, tasks, duration of the mandate, infectious agent to be monitored), evaluation criteria, and the type of funding. Furthermore, possible improvements in the present system were identified and the establishment of good collaborations with reference centers abroad was proposed.