Legionella Water Analysis

Legionella, a member of the Legionellaceae family, consists of more than 50 species, including more than 70 serotypes, of which more than 20 serotypes of Legionella have been reported to cause human diseases. As a common water source microorganism, Legionella can multiply in large quantities in water, and then infect people through aerosol transmission. Therefore, the results of Legionella detection and hygiene evaluation in water environment are very important for early detection and prevention of Legionella breeding in water supply systems.

BOC Sciences set out to develop rapid Legionella detection and analysis services, providing users with simple and reliable tools designed to produce accurate test results they can rely on. The detection service has important application value for timely taking preventive and control measures to prevent the occurrence of Legionnaires' disease.

Fig. 1 The transmission sources, life cycle within water systems and human macrophage, the diagnostic tools and antibiotic treatment for Legionella pneumonia.^[1]

Detection Technologies

We are leading experts in the detection of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens, proficient in a variety of detection techniques and have extensive experience in analysis, interpretation and support. We excel at explaining test results in plain language and help you develop realistic plans to address any issues found in an efficient and timely manner.

Plate Culture

Plate culture is the most common method we use to detect environmental Legionella. Our laboratory analysts are skilled and experienced in identifying Legionella colonies and are able to use any other information accompanying the water sample, combined with their own knowledge and experience of the water system, to select and run the procedure which will give the best chance of growing countable numbers of colonies on the culture medium without interference from other commensal microorganisms.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Our water laboratory has molecular microbiology testing facilities, equipment and trained staff to detect Legionella in water samples using qPCR methods. In particular, samples can be processed and results reported within 24 hours.

MPN quantification

We use this technique to detect Legionella pneumophila in water samples. For drinking water samples, no high temperature pretreatment or concentration steps such as centrifugation or filtration are required. For non-potable water samples, however, a brief pretreatment step is required. The advantage of this method is that the sample demand is small, no professional laboratory equipment is required, and on-site sampling and testing can be carried out directly.

Immunomagnetic Separation (IMS)

Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is a technique that uses small super-magnetic particles or beads coated with antibodies against bacterial cell surface antigens. For Legionella, use anti-Legionella immune-modified magnetic beads with an enzyme-linked colorimetric detection. Routine specific operations include raw water sample treatment (concentration by filtration) and; added of anti-Legionella immune-modified magnetic bead suspension; complexes are then separated by a magnet field, washed, resuspended, and then coupled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The conjugated anti-Legionella antibody is incubated to form a labeled complex, which is visualized by a colorimetric reaction following the addition of HRP substrate. At present, we have realized the fully automated process of this technology, which can conduct multiple batch tests at the same time and complete the test within one hour.

As the leading Legionella detection service provider, BOC Sciences has the unique ability to consider Legionella analysis strategies in all water environments, both in the field and in the laboratory. Not all companies have this capability as they focus on one specific Legionella detection technology. You can trust BOC Sciences to provide the best Legionella test for your specific situation.