Legionella Test

Description

Specialty Testing offers one-time Legionella Testing in a kit form available here, as well as routine monitoring tests for facilities. Contact us for more information or to enroll your facility in a water-management program testing service.

Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe sometimes fatal pneumonia, can occur in persons who inhale aerosolized droplets of water contaminated with the bacterium Legionella. In a recent review of Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks in the United States occurring in 2000–2014, 19% of outbreaks were associated with long-term care facilities and 15% with hospitals. The rate of reported cases of legionellosis, which comprises both Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac fever (a milder, self-limited, influenza-like illness) has increased 286% in the US during 2000–2014, with approximately 5,000 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014. Approximately 9% of reported legionellosis cases are fatal.

-Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals and Long-Term Care facilities must develop and adhere to policies that test for and inhibit microbial growth in building water systems in order to reduce the risk of growth and spread of legionella in water. Outbreaks commonly occur in buildings that have complex water systems such as hotels, long-term care facilities, and hospitals where high risk individuals are concentrated. The most likely sources of infection include water used for showering, hot tubs, decorative fountains and air conditioning cooling towers. We help provide verification testing to help confirm that there is not Legionella bacteria in your boilers, hot water heaters or lines, or other standing/stagnant water locations.

An outbreak of pneumonia occurred in July 1976 in Philadelphia, PA. It affected 221 people and tragically killed 34. Legionella bacteria were found to be the cause of the pneumonia. Many of those affected and killed were members of the American Legion attending a convention at a hotel. This outbreak gave the lung infection its name, Legionnaires’ disease.

Our routine monitoring program for legionella water testing provides:

• Monthly water testing kit delivered to you
• Instructions on how to properly test your water
• Water tested for Legionella at our CDC ELITE lab
• Fast results and guidance on follow up water tests if needed
• Free compliance alerts
• Legionella continuing education