Healthcare Testing & Services
Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) since 1993!
In 1993, a local hospital contacted EST concerned over the potential for Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) involving Aspergillus related to construction projects. Uniquely positioned with expertise in environmental microbiology, epidemiology, and industrial hygiene, EST was able to answer that call and assist that facility. From that initial contact Dr. Miller’s expertise in Legionella detection and isolation provided our healthcare customers with another powerful tool to prevent Legionnaires’ Disease. Over the years new environmental concerns have come to light, and EST continues to innovate to meet these demands. Our team has expanded expertise since that time and can develop a specific testing program designed to fit the needs of your facility or healthcare network. Whether it is emerging pathogens, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, or microbiological contamination of pharmaceutical spaces, EST can provide the expertise and solutions you need.
LEGIONELLA
WATER TESTING
CANDIDA AURIS &
ESKAPE TESTING
CLEANROOM
797 TESTING
CONSTRUCTION
AIR TESTING
- Legionella Water Testing
Water Management Plan (WMP) Validation for Legionella and other Pathogens
- Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1
- Legionella pneumophila serogroups 2-14
- Legionella(other species)
- Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) – Aerobic Bacterial Count
- Other opportunistic waterborne pathogens
Water Systems at Risk for Legionaries Disease (LD)
- Potable Water
- Ice Machines
- Therapy Pools
- Cooling Towers
- Decorative Fountains
Outbreak Response
- Onsite Investigations and Sampling
- Next Day Viable Legionella PCR Analyses
- Disinfection Consultation
Interpretations and Recommendations
- Candida auris & ESKAPE Pathogen Testing
Surface Pathogen Testing
- Investigation of Potential Reservoirs of Pathogens
- Validation of Surface Disinfection Protocols
- Laboratory Analyses of Surface Samples
Outbreak Investigation
- Onsite Investigations and Sampling
- Investigation of Potential Reservoirs of Pathogens in Response to an Outbreak
- Interpretations and Recommendations
- Remediation Validation
Infection Prevention Consultation
- Cleanroom 797 Testing
Cleanroom Validation Testing
- Onsite Investigations and Sampling
- Fungal, Bacterial or Chemical Sampling
- Air and Surface Sampling
- ISO or Internal Standard Evaluations
Environmental Microbial Contamination Testing
- Pharmacopeia 797 Follow up Investigations
- Investigation of Potential Sources of Microbial Contamination
- Air, Surface, and Fingertip Sample Collection
- Air Flow and Pressurization Evaluations
- Laboratory Analyses of Viable Microbial Samples
HVAC and Filtration Consultation
- Construction Air Testing
Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) Consultation
- Developing ICRA Matrix
- Construction Barrier Consultation
- ICRA Contractor Training
Construction ICRA Validation
- Routine Fungal Air Culture Sampling
- Airborne Particle Count Collection
- Construction Barrier Inspection and Validation
Air Quality Complaint Response
- Maintenance Activity or Disaster Related Issues
- Onsite Investigations and Sampling
- Fungal, Bacterial or Chemical Air or Surface Sampling
- Remediation Consultation
Interpretations and Recommendations for Air Quality
Powerful tools to aid the Healthcare Industry prevent HAIs
Since 1993, EST has been a leader in environmental sampling for the healthcare industry. Providing air quality testing for construction projects along with Legionella testing for cooling towers and potable water EST gives our healthcare partners the tools they need to minimize infections.
Legionella Testing
- Standard Legionella ISO Culture (CFU/ml)
Standard turnaround 7-10 days
ISO 11731:2017 process method
Reporting pneumophila Serogroup 1 (SG 1), L. pneumophila SG 2-14, and L. non-pneumophila species
- Rapid Legionella ISO Culture (CFU/ml)
Rapid turnaround in 96 hours
Traditional culture processing
Reporting pneumophila SG 1, L. pneumophila SG 2-14, and L. non-pneumophila species
- Quantitative Viable Legionella vPCR! (CFU/ml)
- Same Day or Next Business Day turnaround
- Viable specific version of Legionella qPCR ISO/TS 12869:2019
- Validated to accurately report CFU/ml
- Reporting viable pneumophila SG 1 and L. pneumophila SG 2-15
- Emerging Pathogen Monitoring
CMS/Environmental Waterborne Pathogens Test
- ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2021 drove the need to perform Legionellatesting as validation of an implemented and verified WMP. However, there are additional waterborne pathogens that may be present that also need to be kept under surveillance. In the above-mentioned memorandum CMS listed six additional pathogens to keep watch for in patient populations, especially the immunocompromised. In response, EST developed a new combination Waterborne Pathogen Test. Because these other CMS pathogens have been overshadowed by the regulatory and legal focus on Legionella, these waterborne pathogens are sometimes referred to as the “Forgotten Six”:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Acinetobacter species
- Burkholderia cepacia complex
- Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
- Mycobacterium species – Non-tuberculous (NTM)
- Total NTM
- M. avium
- M. chimaera
- Fungi (Molds and Yeast)
- ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2021 drove the need to perform Legionellatesting as validation of an implemented and verified WMP. However, there are additional waterborne pathogens that may be present that also need to be kept under surveillance. In the above-mentioned memorandum CMS listed six additional pathogens to keep watch for in patient populations, especially the immunocompromised. In response, EST developed a new combination Waterborne Pathogen Test. Because these other CMS pathogens have been overshadowed by the regulatory and legal focus on Legionella, these waterborne pathogens are sometimes referred to as the “Forgotten Six”:
- All pathogens also available as individual analysis.
- Candida auris & Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens Surface Test
Don’t let Candida auris or ESKAPE drug-resistant pathogens become the source of an outbreak at your facility.
It has been well-established that environmental surfaces play an important role in the endemic and epidemic transmission of certain pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections. These bacteria (especially the so-called ESKAPE bacteria) and certain fungal/yeast pathogens (specifically Candida auris) share the ability to be shed from infected or colonized patients, survive as infectious agents on dry surfaces for extended periods, are difficult to treat because of multiple drug-resistances (MDRs), and are difficult to eradicate from their environmental locations, even with the recommended cleaning and disinfection agents and practices.
Candida auris
Enterococcus faecium + VRE
Staphylococcus aureus + MRSA
Klebsiella pneumoniae + CRE
Acinetobacter baumannii
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Enterobacter species + CRE
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
Others pathogens of interest upon request
Analyses can be ordered individually, by select grouping, or all at the same time.
All analyses for a sample site can be run from a single EST supplied surface swab.
- Therapy Pool Legionella control with Disinfection Confirmation Tests
- Analyses that measure regulatory (City or State) controlled disinfection parameters:
- Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) – Total Bacterial Count
- Analyses that measure Legionella control:
- L. pneumophila serogroup 1
- L. pneumophila serogroup 2-14
- Legionella (other species)
- Analyses that measure other associated waterborne pathogen control:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Mycobacterium species – Non-tuberculous (NTM)
- Total NTM
- M. avium
- M. chimaera
Dr. Legionella™ And EST
With all our great Legionella services you get access to Dr. Legionella™ and his extensive Legionella knowledge and experience.
