Testing for Legionella

Legionella bacteria was first discovered in 1976 after a large outbreak of pneumonia sickened 221 people and eventually claimed the lives of 34 attendees at an American Legion Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Legionnaires’ infections have been increasing ever since. In fact, the rate of people who get Legionnaires’ disease has risen by 550 percent since 2000, which leaves business owners wondering – how can we improve the safety of our buildings and communities?

Microbac Laboratories offers a wide spectrum of analytical services for Legionella. In fact, since 2008, Microbac has been a member of the CDCâs Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program, an initiative that allows participating laboratories to test their Legionella isolation techniques against standardized samples. As part of its commitment in providing the best available analytical methods, Microbac currently employs two testing options for Legionella: the plating method and the Legiolert© platform.

Legiolert©, developed by Idexx, is the global leader in water microbiology, the method quantifies L. pneumophila in water samples utilizing a bacterial enzyme detection technology. The platform offers quicker turnaround time (7 to 10 days) versus 21 days for conventional culture and plating methods. The Legiolert© rapid method, which is AFNOR validated, was initially launched by Idexx in Europe in 2017.

A custom sample kit will be provided for you with the proper bottles for sample collection and easy to follow sampling and return shipping instructions. Sampling and courier services are offered in certain geographies.

Common Sources of Legionella Bacteria Infection Include:

• Fountains and Decorative Water Features
• Cooling Towers
• Shower Heads and Sink Faucets
• Hot Tubs That Are Not Drained After Each Use
• Hot Water Tanks and Heaters
• Large Plumbing Systems
• Misting Systems, Such as Those Found in Grocery Stores

A Cost-Effective Way to Avoid an Expensive Lawsuit

A Legionella bacteria outbreak comes down to two things: ignorance or negligence. Businesses either donât know they have Legionella bacteria and donât know they should be testing for it or they know they should be testing for it and simply donât. Unfortunately, this decision can be an expensive one for businesses.

In most cases, the infected victim will seek legal support post infection, suing the establishment from which the illness was contracted. These lawsuits rarely result in the establishmentâs favor. In recent years, huge hotels like the Sheraton Atlanta have been forced to close after a Legionella lawsuit and actual âLegionella lawyersâ have begun advertising their services to those seeking reparations. To void a legal battle, businesses can invest in affordable legionella testing for their building to keep both their business and patrons safe.