Rapid Legionella Testing as Effective Alternative to Lab Cultures
Rapid Legionella testing matches lab accuracy while delivering faster results, urging people to rethink water system management.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Feb 05, 2025
A new study has confirmed that rapid Legionella testing is just as accurate as traditional lab culture methods, but significantly faster. Hydrosense, a leader in Legionella detection, is urging businesses to rethink water system management as Legionnaires’ disease cases rise sharply.
Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, has seen a dramatic increase in cases due to climate change and warming temperatures. In the U.S., reported cases have jumped from 1,100 in 2000 to nearly 10,000 in 2018—a nine-fold increase.
Hydrosense commissioned a third-party study at the CDC ELITE-certified laboratory Chemicals Incorporated (CHEM Inc.) in California to compare its rapid testing kit with traditional lab culture methods. While lab cultures took seven days to deliver results, the Hydrosense PRO lateral flow test provided results in just 25 minutes—yet was 100% accurate in detecting L. pneumophila serogroups 1-15.
Hydrosense CEO Greg Rankin emphasized the importance of adopting faster, more reliable testing methods. “Legionnaires’ cases have risen by 1,000% since 2000. Continuing to rely on slow, outdated methods is simply not good enough,” Rankin stated.
From an industrial hygiene perspective, Legionella detection is critical in preventing workplace health risks. The bacteria thrive in warm water systems found in hospitals, cooling towers, and office buildings. Rapid testing enables safety officers and facility managers to detect contamination quickly, allowing them to adjust water treatment protocols and prevent potential outbreaks.
Traditional lab culture testing has several drawbacks: results take up to 10 days, bacteria can die in transit leading to false negatives, and standard methods fail to detect Viable but Non-Culturable (VBNC) bacteria. Since Legionella bacteria can double in just one day, delayed results increase exposure risks for employees and the public.
A Call to Action
With rising global temperatures and increasingly complex water systems, Hydrosense is urging businesses to modernize their Legionella detection strategies. “We have a real opportunity to reduce exposure and protect lives with faster, more effective testing,” Rankin concluded.
For more information, visit Hydrosense's website.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.