Legionella Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, September 10, 2024

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) states there are approximately 500 laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported each year in California. The agency goes on to claim that most cases in California appear to be sporadic rather than outbreak associated. However, CDPH also warns that outbreaks in the state have been associated with healthcare and congregate living facilities, hotels, hot tubs, and cooling towers.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria can also cause a less serious illness known as Pontiac fever. While the bacteria can be found naturally in freshwater environments, it becomes a health concern if it grows and spreads in man-made building water systems. This is due to the fact that water containing Legionella can spread in droplets small enough for people to inhale.

CDC reports that most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. People at increased risk of getting sick include:

• People 50 years or older
• Current or former smokers
• Those with a chronic lung disease (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema)
• People with weak immune systems or who take drugs that weaken the immune system (like after a transplant operation or chemotherapy)
• Those with cancer
• People with underlying illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure

“Some of the building water systems and devices listed by CDC where Legionella could grow and spread include showerheads and sink faucets, cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains and water features, hot water tanks and heaters, and large, complex plumbing systems,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “These are all reasons why it is strongly recommended to have a water management program in place to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease associated with these systems and devices.”

Routine environmental sampling for Legionella can be an effective way to validate the efficacy of these programs. With multiple laboratories in California, LA Testing offers laboratory services and specialized sampling supplies to detect Legionella and other microbial pathogens from environmental samples to support these efforts. In fact, LA Testing's South Pasadena and Huntington Beach laboratories are both CDC ELITE laboratories for Legionella testing.

To spread awareness of the potential risks of exposure to Legionella, LA Testing recently sponsored an educational video that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/ZP9AotQ2_gE 

To learn more about Legionella or other infection control testing resources, 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 environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, 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 ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, 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 and San Diego.