What You Need To Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that inpatient/residential healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes) conduct routine environmental Legionella testing as part of their Water Management Program. The two most common testing methods are traditional Legionella culture (spread plate) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has noted some facilities using rapid environmental Legionella tests for water testing, often marketed for “field use” and available for purchase online (see below example photos). In accordance with CDC guidance, NJDOH recommends against these environmental Legionella test kits as a substitute for Legionella culture and PCR testing of environmental samples.
Healthcare facilities should review their environmental testing methods for adherence with CDC guidelines. Visit CDC’s website for more information on test method considerations.
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