FAQs
We understand that sometimes “You don’t know what you don’t know.” To help you decide your best approach for Legionella Water Risk Management and water quality testing, we provide clear answers to commonly asked questions.
The #1 reason to test your water for Legionella bacteria is to make sure the water is safe. Testing helps to reduce the risk of Legionella spread in your water system by catching it early. If Legionella grow in the system unchecked, the bacteria can spread through water droplets and mist out of faucets, shower, etc. If vulnerable people breathe in the contaminated aerosolized water, they can become ill with Legionnaires’ disease. The threat is real, and reports have been increasing in recent years.
Outbreaks of Legionella has increased at least 400% over the last 15 years. Studies show an estimated 10,000-18,000 people are infected every year with Legionella bacteria in the United States. According to the CDC, 1 out of 10 people will die from Legionnaires' Disease. Many outbreaks occur within cooling towers on top of buildings of hospitals, hotels, commercial units, and healthcare facilities.
There are various DIY detection kits available. The manufacturers of these detection kits claim that Legionella can be detected quickly and easily without sending a water sample to a laboratory. Most are simple to use tests that are similar, in principle, to at-home pregnancy or drug detection kits. The issue with DIY detection kits for Legionella is they are generally not sensitive enough to detect Legionella and may produce negative results. They also may not provide specifics on the strains of Legionella detected and may count dead Legionella. Detecting Legionella properly is important because just a few bacteria in a sample can be cause for concern.
The culture method of testing, performed in a certified laboratory, provides the details needed to verify there are no bacteria or to determine the severity of a Legionella problem. The best way to “test” for Legionella yourself is to purchase a DIY Legionella Sample kit from a reputable laboratory, collect the samples, and submit them to the laboratory for analysis. You will usually have results in 10 -12 days. Always make sure the lab is certified for Legionella bacteria testing proficiency. Learn more about our DIY Legionella Sample Collection kits here.
Legionella is a common bacteria that grows naturally in the environment. Sometimes Legionella will find a home in a building's pipes. Legionella coming from the environment will attach itself to the inside of a pipe and form a colony. Attachment and colony formation can be inhibited by moving water, biocides, like chlorine, and high temperatures.
Favorable conditions in the water system may permit Legionella to start growing. A colony has the appearance of a slimy coating or sludge inside a pipe. Colonies are extremely hard to get rid of once established. They are resistant to chlorine and even high temperatures. Occasionally, pieces of a Legionella colony may break off and come out of the system. If people breath in a part of a Legionella bacteria colony their lungs may become infected.
A water management plan is a document that provides instructions on how your facility makes sure that the water is safe from Legionella. The water management plan is a living document that includes who does various tasks and when to perform the tasks.
Tasks include documenting changes to the water system. Changes to note may include installation of new plumbing components, construction, and variances on the system's temperature, chlorine, and ph measurements. Environmental sampling and Legionella testing validate if the water management plan is working to reduce the risk of Legionella.
There are three basic methods that are commonly used to detect Legionella.
The gold standard is to take water and see if it grows Legionella in the laboratory. Special techniques must be used by skilled scientists to evaluate if Legionella is present. This method establishes that Legionella is alive and able to grow and possibly infect people. Growing Legionella takes up to 10 days and is expensive. But the method is sensitive and specific and only detects living bacteria.
Another method detects Legionella DNA using Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR in short. PCR is fast and very sensitive, specific and relatively inexpensive compared to growing Legionella. There are some drawbacks however. PCR measures DNA that coming from living and dead Legionella. Thus detecting DNA does not necessarily mean there is living Legionella in the system. In some instances the PCR may not work because of chemicals in the sample. There is considerable debate regarding the suitability of using PCR instead of the gold standard method.
There are also methods that can be used to detect Legionella that use specific molecules called antibodies. Methods that use antibodies to detect or measure bacteria are often called immunological methods. Antibodies recognize and bind to the surface of Legionella bacteria. These systems are used to evaluate the type of Legionella that is grown in the laboratory from a water sample. Antibody or immunochemical approaches have very low sensitivity. This means they are inappropriate for evaluation of water sample.
Testing areas will vary based on the size and needs of your facility.
The Veterans Administration has a standard of a minimum of 20 areas sampled per building. Depending on how big or small your building is, you will want to work with your facility engineer or head of maintenance to decide which areas of your building and water sources to sample. Typically, Legionella water sampling plans include testing water from cooling towers, water storage tanks, dead leg piping, drinking water fountains, decorative fountains, faucets, showerheads, and ice machines.
Your price is the same whether your sample tests positive or negative for Legionella. Your price includes Free Shipping (in the contiguous United States), all supplies, testing, and results report.
If a sample is positive for the presence of Legionella the lab will confirm whether it is Legionella pneumophila serotype 1, Legionella pneumophila serotypes 2-14, or another species of Legionella.
We offer an easy, secure online ordering system for your DIY Legionella Sample Collection Kit. You can set up an account or check out as a guest and pay with a credit card. For collection services, we provide a quote and payment can be made by credit card as well.
Collection services are tailored to each customer’s needs and location and at this time are not available to order online. There are several steps involved including providing a quote, receiving approval, scheduling collector services, and arranging payment. Our customers appreciate the personalized service they receive throughout the collection and testing process. Request a quote for services or contact us if you have any questions.
Legionnaires’ disease is a dangerous respiratory illness. People can become sick with Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever if they breathe in aerosolized water that is infected with Legionella Bacteria. Learn more here.
Routine Legionella Water Testing
The CDC provides helpful guidelines for including routine water sampling and testing in water management programs.
Water Management Plan CDC Toolkit
With a water management plan, building owners can take actions to reduce the risk of Legionella. The CDC Toolkit provides easy to follow guidelines.
Reduce the Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease CMS Requirements
If you are a healthcare facility, the CMS requires you to follow their guidelines to reduce Legionella Risk.
Water Source Sampling and Testing
Before sending samples to the laboratory for testing you will need to determine what water sources should be sampled. The CDC provides guidelines for sampling if Legionnaires’ disease reports are linked to a facility.
Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Shutdowns or Low Occupancy
During shutdowns and reduced use buildings may have water sources that have not been used. Without ongoing use and flushing, water in the system becomes stagnant and can become a breeding ground for Legionella bacteria.