SURVEY OF LABORATORY AND FIELD TEST METHODS FOR LEGIONELLA

摘要

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requires a spread-plate culture legionella test during investigations of a known or suspected outbreak of Legionellosis. While owners of cooling towers are concerned about managing their legal liability, they also must manage their operating risks. The culture method is a poor fit for routine assessment of operating risk of Legionella in cooling water systems because operators cannot make timely decisions about corrective actions. Field test methods can provide valuable information about the Legionella population and allow the cooling system owner to promptly assess the operating risk and implement corrective actions - reducing the risks to public health. This paper discusses the selection criteria for field test methods Legionella pneumophila (sensitivity, specificity, time, and legal defensibility (accreditation)) and reviews the commercially-available field test methods and test kits, including the technology, the accuracy of the test results, and the proper interpretation of test results.