For accurate Legionella testing
Legionella testing
Legionella testing is essential for ensuring the safety of your water systems and preventing the risk of Legionnaires' disease. Our Legionella testing services are designed to help you meet regulatory requirements, safeguard public health, and maintain a safe environment for employees, visitors, and contractors.
Our Legionella methods follow the most recent ISO standard; 11731:2017 Water quality – Enumeration of Legionella
If required, we can provide risk assessments and sampling through our consultancy team
What is legionella?
Legionella is a type of bacteria commonly found in water systems, such as cooling towers, hot and cold water systems, and air conditioning units. If inhaled through contaminated water droplets, it can cause Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
Laboratory analysis for Legionella
Our Legionella methods follow the most recent ISO standard; 11731:2017 Water quality – Enumeration of Legionella. Filtration is utilised as standard (method MIC003d) but we also have a centrifugation method available for processing turbid samples.
Our Legionella testing process
- 1
Initial risk assessment
We start by conducting a Legionella risk assessment to identify potential hazards in your water systems.
- 2
Water sample collection
Our consultants collect water samples from various points in your system, including cooling towers, water tanks, taps, and showers.
- 3
Laboratory analysis
The collected samples are sent to our accredited laboratory for testing. We test for Legionella species, including testing specifically for Legionella pneumophila, serogroups 1, and 2-14.
- 4
Detailed reporting
Once testing is complete, you will receive a comprehensive report detailing the results that will identify if Legionella was present in your samples.
Culture versus qPCR for Legionella analysis
For culture methods, finding bacteria relies on the principle of viable culturable bacterial cells growing to form colonies on agar. Results are expressed as colony forming units per unit of volume tested e.g. “100 cfu/l”.
qPCR, which is a molecular method, works on the principle of extracting DNA from cells in the sample and then amplifying it alongside fluorescent markers. The level of fluorescence is measured, and from the sigmoid curve generated, the starting DNA value can be calculated from that of the controls. Results are expressed as Genomic Units (GU) per litre.
Currently, the culture method is the ‘gold standard’ in Legionella detection and identification. However, new technologies such as qPCR offer considerable advantage over the culture method in the rapid turn-around time of results (as fast as 48hrs). This has been recognised by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) especially as a negative screening tool and as a complimentary test to routine monitoring.
Case Study
Water testing for patient safety
How do you ensure a new hospital can open safely, despite strict deadlines and thousands of water samples? WCS Water and Air turned to Normec Latis Scientific for fast and flexible legionella and pseudomonas testing.
Curious how our approach contributed to patient safety and operational efficiency?
Accreditations & Recognitions
We go for quality. For guaranteed results.
At Normec Latis Scientific, we uphold the highest standards of quality, safety, and environmental responsibility. We are certified for: - ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems - ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems - ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems These certifications demonstrate our commitment to delivering reliable, safe, and sustainable services, while continuously improving our processes and protecting people and the environment. Proficiency Testing Proficiency testing is central to our quality system and provides confidence that our methods, equipment and staff are delivering the levels of quality required by UKAS and our clients. Normec Latis Scientific participates in external proficiency testing schemes provided by Public Health England and FAPAS.
UKAS schedule of accreditation
Our laboratories are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the norm ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the British, European and International Standard for quality assurance in analytical laboratories. The full standard covers quality assurance and method specific procedures, with all individual methods inspected and approved by UKAS. Normec Latis Scientific Limited, a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 2279.
Legionella Control Association
Latis Scientific hold the LCA Certificate of Registration issued by the Legionella Control Association (LCA).
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Normec Latis Scientific
London United Kingdom