We test water for the Legionella bacteria. We hold relevant accreditation by the Polish Accreditation Centre. Legionella Pneumophila cultures are subjected to biochemical confirmation and serological tests to guarantee proper and accurate results of our tests.

Legislation
Many countries in the world have been trying to minimize the problem related to occurrence of Legionella in water environment and its effects, introducing appropriate regulations to their legislations.
Legal regulations apply to the acceptable level of Legionella presence in water, cooling and air-conditioning systems as well as to procedures to be taken in situation of bacteria detection – i.e. European Community Council’s Directive 89/106/EEC, German Guidelines VDI-6022, American Guidelines ASHRAE, British requirements included in BS 2486:1997.
In Poland, relevant requirements for water quality in respect of Legionella bacteria contamination were included in the Minister of Health Decree dated 29th of March 2007 for the quality of potable water. Within buildings such as hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, pensions, orphanages etc, water should be tested for detection and enumeration of Legionella.

Risk
The potential sources of Legionella Pneumophila infection include environments of high humidity where the bacteria can grow and multiply rapidly: air-conditioning systems, showers, taps, water massage bath tubs, fountains, etc. In hospitals, major risk is related to: respirators, inhalers, catheters, drains, spirometrical and endoscopy devices. Particularly rapid growth and development of Legionella Pneumophila bacteria may be found in water installations.
Legionella type bacteria can cause two kinds of diseases:

• Legionellosis – pulmonary diseases, with dominating symptoms of acute pneumonia (dry cough, respiratory problems, temperature exceeding 40 st.C, consciousness disorders). 10-20% of disease cases result in death.
• Pontiac Fever – flu-like symptoms. The period of incubation up to 48 hours; symptoms: sudden increase of body temperature, rigor, headache, muscle ache, superior respiratory system infection. No deaths have been recorded, while 90% of infected population displayed symptoms of the disease.

Tests
According to European Reference Centres recommendations, the tests should be performed:

• 1 to 4 times per year – in public utility buildings, and in particular in: swimming pools, hospitals, and nursing homes;
• 2 per year – in hotels and other air-conditioned buildings.

In Poland, frequency of water tests for Legionella depends on the level of the water contamination identified in the first performed test.
If water contamination is at the level of 102-103 cfu /100 ml next test should be carried out after one year, water contaminated at the level of 103-104 should be retested after three months. Clean water (i.e. with contamination below 100 cfu/100 ml), should be tested after one year. If subsequent test result for Legionella is below 100 cfu/100 ml, the next test should be carried out in 3 years.