Legionella Testing & Services

Are You Protected from a Costly Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak?

Viable Legionella Results in as Little as 6 HOURS!

EST is a CDC ELITE and ANSI/ANAB ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory offering a variety of Legionella testing options designed to fit the needs of your Legionella Water Management Programs in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE 188-2021 for your building water systems.  All our Legionella analyses, ISO 11731 Culture, and our Viable vPCR version of ISO 12869 qPCR, feature Ph.D. Interpretations and Recommendations by Dr. Richard Miller, along with his over forty-five years of experience with Legionella.  Click the links below to learn more about the different systems that are recommended you monitor for Legionella.

COOLING
TOWERS

WHIRLPOOL
SPAS

DECORATIVE FOUNTAINS

Analyses that measure Legionella control: 0070c0

  • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1
  • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2-14 
  • Legionella (other species)

Analyses that measure disinfection or performance parameters: 

  • Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) – Aerobic Bacteria Count
  • Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC)

Overall Cooling Tower System Safety – Interpretations and Recommendations

Analyses that measure Legionella control: 

    • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1
    • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2-14 
    • Legionella (other species)

Analyses that measure general disinfection  parameters: 

  • Total bacterial count 
  • CMS Waterborne Pathogens

Overall Potable Water System Safety – Interpretations and Recommendations

Analyses that measure regulatory controlled  disinfection  parameters: 

  • Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Total Coliforms
  • Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) – Aerobic Bacteria Count

Analyses that measure Legionella control: 

  • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1
  • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2-14
  • Legionella (other species)

Analyses that measure other associated waterborne pathogen control:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
  • Mycobacterium species – Non-tuberculosis (NTM)
    • Total NTM
    • M. avium
    • M. chimaera

Overall Spa Safety – Interpretations and Recommendations

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Analyses that measure Legionella control: 

  • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1
  • Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2-14
  • Legionella (other species)

Analyses that measure general disinfection  parameters: 

  • Total bacterial count 

Overall Fountain Safety – Interpretations and Recommendations

Need Help Understanding Which Test Is Right For You?

  • Standard turnaround 7-10 days
  • ISO 11731:2017 process method
  • Reporting L. pneumophila Serogroup 1 (SG 1), L. pneumophila SG 2-14, and L. non-pneumophila species
  • Validated Rapid turnaround in 96 hours
  • Traditional culture processing
  • Reporting L. pneumophila SG 1, L. pneumophila SG 2-14, and L. non-pneumophila species
  • 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 L. pneumophila SG 1 and L. pneumophila SG 2-15

What is Legionella?

Legionella is a genus of potentially pathogenic (Legionnaires’ disease-causing) bacteria that live in environmental water ecosystems, inside of free-living amoebae, and within microscopically diverse water/surface biofilms. The genus Legionella contains at least 50 identified species and more than 70 different serogroups. The species L. pneumophila is responsible for 90% of the cases of Legionnaires’ disease, with L. pneumophila serogroup 1 being the cause of virtually all community-acquired outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. 

What is Legionnaires’ disease? 

Legionnaires’ disease is an acute pneumonia caused by inhalation of an aerosol of environmental water containing an infectious dose of L. pneumophila, or less commonly, one of the other Legionella species. The disease can be rapidly fatal if not treated aggressively with the appropriate antibiotics, especially hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised patients with underlying health conditions. 

The first documented outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was at the 1976 convention of the American Legion, where 221 of the attendees contracted the disease which resulted in 34 deaths. The name of the disease and subsequent genus name originate from this outbreak.  Since then, there has been a steady rise in the recognition of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease, including the 2015 New York City outbreak in the South Bronx. During three weeks of the 2015 summer, 133 Legionnaires’ Disease cases, which resulted in 16 deaths, were documented and traced back to exposure of a single contaminated cooling tower on top of a hotel building.  Hospital-acquired infections are a more common source of infection and are typically linked to exposure to contaminated hot water loops of the premise plumbing in healthcare facilities. Outbreaks from exposure to the hot water loops in hotels have also been documented. 

Dr. Legionella™ And EST

With all our great Legionella services you get access to Dr. Legionella™ and his extensive Legionella knowledge and experience. 

 

 

Legionella Management in Building Water Systems

EST and Dr. Miller have provided our customers with the highest level of Legionella services and information since 1983 and we are prepared to assist you with ASHRAE 188-2021.  We can provide guidance in establishing your “Water Management Program”.

Does ASHRAE 188-2021 apply to you?

COVID-19 and Legionella

The impact COVID-19 has had on everyone extends to building water systems, both cooling towers and potable water systems. Inactivity and limited use can contribute to the formation of biofilm allowing for Legionella proliferation. EST can assist in developing a reopening plan for your facility, including highly effective re-commissioning disinfection procedures and follow-up validation Legionella testing.

BEYOND Legionella

EST also offers a wide variety of Environmental Microbiological Services please click below to learn more.

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