Legiolert™ from IDEXX Laboratories is the easiest culture method for the confirmed detection of Legionella pneumophila in drinking water.

Using the Legiolert approach public health response times can be improved by accurately detecting the presence of Legionella pneumophila in potable water systems in 7 days, versus up to 14 days with traditional culture methods. The new test also saves valuable laboratory time.

“Legiolert simplifies traditional water testing by requiring fewer steps,” said Dan Broder, PhD, lead scientist on the Legiolert project at IDEXX Laboratories. “Legiolert does not require laborious colony counting or confirmation steps, which reduces the need for training and the risk of interpretation errors, and frees up laboratory staff time.”

The test is based on a bacterial enzyme detection technology that signals the presence of Legionella pneumophila through utilization of a substrate present in the Legiolert reagent. Legionella pneumophila cells grow rapidly and reproduce using the rich supply of amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients present in the Legiolert reagent. Actively growing strains of Legionella pneumophila use the added substrate to produce a brown color indicator. Legiolert detects Legionella pneumophila at 1 organism in a 100 mL sample within 7 days.

For more information on IDEXX Water’s Legiolert test and water safety testing, please visit idexx.com/water/products/legiolert.html.