IDEXX Legiolert® receives UK acceptance for Legionella pneumophila testing in waters and other environmental samples
The Legiolert culture testing method, developed by IDEXX to identify Legionella pneumophila, has been accepted by the UK’s Standing Committee of Analysts (SCA). Legiolert, for the accurate analysis of samples from cooling towers, hot and cold water systems, spa pools and a variety of other water sources, is now specified as a recommended method in the Committee’s “blue book” publication “The determination of Legionella bacteria in waters and other environmental samples (2020) – Part 2 – Culture Methods for their detection and enumeration.”
Legiolert was launched in Europe by IDEXX in 2017 and is a highly sensitive method for the confirmed detection of Legionella pneumophila in water, delivering results up to seven days faster than traditional culture testing methods. Legionella pneumophila is the most common Legionella species in water and according to Public Health England data, causes more than 99% of all cases of Legionnaires’ disease.1 Legionnaires’ disease is deadly for about 1 in 10 people who contract it and often causes long-lasting symptoms for survivors.
A number of peer reviewed studies2-5 have highlighted superior performance of Legiolert when compared to the standard method for detection of Legionella pneumophila. The ISO 11731 method has a number of limitations including a significant false negative error rate which can result in undetected contamination and consequent risk to human health, especially in the case of vulnerable populations. In contrast, Legiolert is a culture method which is both accurate and easy to use. Legiolert is also recognised with AFNOR certification for hot and cold sanitary water and cooling tower water (Reference No IDX 33/06 06/19).
The Legiolert test is based on a bacterial enzyme detection technology that signals the presence of Legionella pneumophila through utilisation of the Legiolert reagent. Legionella pneumophila cells grow rapidly and reproduce using the rich supply of amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients present in the Legiolert reagent. Actively growing strains of Legionella pneumophila produce a brown colour indicator.
Legiolert is the latest IDEXX method specified as a recognised method by the SCA. Others include Pseudalert® for the rapid, accurate testing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Colilert®-18 for the rapid detection of coliforms and Escherichia coli, and Enterolert®-DW or Enterolert®-E for the isolation and enumeration of enterococci.
For more information on Legiolert and IDEXX Water please contact:
IDEXX Water UK
Units 1B and 1C, Newmarket Business Park, Studlands Park Avenue, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7ER
T: 01638 676800
E: [email protected]
W: www.idexx.co.uk/water
References:
1. Legionnaires’ disease in residents of England and Wales: 2016. Official Statistics. Legionnaires’ disease cases by causative organism, 2014-2016 Page 17 table 9.
2. Spies, K. Pleischl, B., Lange B., Longer, B., Hübner, J., Jurzki, L.,Luden, K., Exner, M. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 221 (2018) 1047–1053. Full text at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438463917306818
3. D.P. Sartory, K. Spies., B. Lange., S. Schneider and B. Langer (2017) Evaluation of a most probable number method for the enumeration of Legionella pneumophila from potable and related water samples. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 64(4):271-275
4. Petrisek R., Hall J. (2018) Evaluation of a most probable number method for the enumeration of Legionella pneumophila from North American potable and non potable water samples, Journal of Water & Health
5. Rech, M., Swalla, S., Dobani, J. (2018) Evaluation of Legiolert for Quantification of Legionella pneumophila from Non-potable Water, Current Microbiology
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