Category |
Press Release |
Publish Date |
3/16/2021 |
Author |
Paul Cochrane |
Title |
LA Testing Provides Routine Environmental Testing for Legionella |
Introduction |
LA Testing offers PCR and traditional culturing methods to identify the microbial pathogen that causes Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever in building water systems. |
Huntington Beach, CA, March 16th, 2021
A popular California newspaper recently published a story about significant levels of Legionella bacteria that were found in the water system of a building campus in a California city that is the headquarters for a large state agency. According to their story, employees were notified of test results from a year and a half ago, but not of more recent tests that found the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease in a number of water sources in various buildings.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia that can be deadly for some people. It is typically caused by people inhaling mist or water contaminated with Legionella bacteria from building water systems that are not adequately maintained. This is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that buildings may need a water management program to reduce the risk for Legionnaires’ disease associated with their building water systems and devices.
“Routine environmental sampling for Legionella is an excellent way to validate the efficacy of building water management programs,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “Sampling should not be done in isolation, but rather as part of a comprehensive water management program. CDC asserts that sampling plans are unique to each facility and based on factors such as overall performance of the water management program; building characteristics (e.g., size, age, complexity, populations served); and sites of possible exposure to aerosolized water to name a few considerations.”
In California, LA Testing provides laboratory services and specialized sampling supplies to detect Legionella from environmental samples and support water management programs. They have even sponsored an educational video about Legionella and monitoring building water systems that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/F_Ggg_uaL_s.
To learn more about Legionella or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.
About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: : AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.
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