Legionella Testing & Water Sampling for the Control of Legionnaires Disease
As the UK’s leading legionella risk management experts, Legionella Control International offer a wide range of United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited legionella testing and water sampling services that can be tailored to meet your exact needs and requirements.
With a number of specialist legionella testing and sampling methods available ranging from swabs, the collection of 250ml, 500ml and 1 litre samples to rapid in-field tests, and standard filtration and centrifugal separation techniques, Legionella Control International’s specialist analysis services can help test your water systems for the presence of Legionella bacteria and other waterborne pathogens.
Are you confident your water systems are free from legionella?
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria, and is a serious lung infection that can be fatal.
So wouldn’t it be great if you could be confident that your water systems were legionella free?
If you don’t test for the presence of Legionella bacteria, how can you be sure it is not present in your water systems?
Although, in most instances testing for legionella is not a legal requirement with domestic water services, if your organisation has a cooling tower then you are required to take water samples and have them tested for legionella on a quarterly basis at the very least, this testing frequency is outlined in the Health & Safety Executives ACOP L8 and HSG274.
If your cooling towers are newly commissioned, you should even consider testing them on a monthly or even weekly basis.
Legionella sampling and testing
The difference between sampling and testing is often misunderstood by many. Quite simply, sampling is the action of obtaining a sample of water that is to be used for testing purposes.
Legionella testing is the actual examination of the water sample usually carried out in the laboratory.
Sampling and testing are two distinctly separate procedures, and there are specific British standards and guidance documents for each process.
For sampling, testing and analysis, the relevant British Standards are:
BS 7592:2022
Sampling for Legionella bacteria in water systems. Code of practice
BS EN ISO 11731:2017
Water quality. Enumeration of Legionella
Most importantly however, is that the water analysis is carried out by an organisation that is UKAS accredited. Any legionella testing procedure without the appropriate UKAS accreditation will generally not be accepted by the regulator (Health & Safety Executive) or considered accurate, so any testing you undertake should be formally certified by a UKAS accredited organisation.
The legionella testing and analysis process
Once a water sample is taken, results of a laboratory test are usually available within 10 to 12 days. This is due to the nature of the testing, as part of it requires organisms to grow on an inoculated plate.
Currently, this is the most common industry testing method, and is known for its dependability and cost-effectiveness. However, for some clients, ten days may be not suitable, especially if results are required urgently. Under such circumstances we offer an innovative rapid self-test (LegionellaFast) which uses the latest “rapid-test” technology to detect Legionella bacteria in water in only 25 minutes… rapid legionella testing
Do you want us to sample your water systems?
If you would like us to sample your water systems for legionella bacteria call us today on 0330 223 36 86 or get in touch here … contact us
To deal with your request promptly we will need the following information:
- The details of the water system that you need testing.
- The number of tests you require, and frequency if appropriate.
- Full address of the test site.
- Details of any access/safety issues.
- The reason you want the tests carried out.
Once we have confirmed your booking, we will arrange for one of our highly trained consultants to attend your site and take samples in accordance with all relevant UK legislation.
Your samples will then be taken to one of our approved laboratories, where they will begin our rigorous testing process. This process normally takes between 10 to 12 days to complete. However, if our analysis indicates a potential positive result for the presence of legionella earlier than this you will be notified immediately.
Interpreing the test results
Unlike other testing services which simply present clients with the results of each test without interpretation, we specialise in legionella risk management and are able to explain in detail what the results of individual tests mean for you, your risk management activities, and how to resolve any problems that are identified in an effective and timely manner.
Talk to the experts
Legionella Control International are world leading experts in legionella risk management. We provide companies with independent and impartial advice and services relating to the risk assessment, testing, control, management and prevention of Legionnaires’ disease.
All of our consultants, engineers and technicians are fully trained and competent in legionella testing, and the laboratory services that we use are UKAS accredited and operate to the highest standards, and are all staffed by highly qualified microbiologists and laboratory technicians.
All of our testing results are provided with original UKAS certification as required in the Health and Safety Executives ACOP L8 document, giving you both full transparency and a traceable audit trail.
With offices across the UK in Manchester, London and Glasgow, our reputation is such that we are trusted advisors to some of the world’s most respected organisations including the NHS, Tesco, United Utilities, BAE Systems and a range of unitary authorities and councils.
To find out more about how Legionella Control International can help you with your legionella risk management call us today on 0330 223 36 86 or get in touch here … contact us
London
Kemp House
152 City Road
London EC1V 2NX
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 203 637 47 48
Manchester
Warren Bruce Court
Warren Bruce Road
Manchester M17 ILB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 877 0586
More about Legionella bacteria & Legionnaires’ disease
For more information about this condition including transmission, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis… Legionnaires’ disease
