Legionnaires` Disease Outbreaks: Prevention and Control Methods

Comparative study of Legiolert with ISO 11731-1998 standard method-conclusions from a Public Health Laboratory

A new study [1] carried out by the Public Health Laboratory of L'Hospitalet in Barcelona, Spain, has compared the IDEXX Legiolert® test with the standard method for detection and enumeration of Legionella (ISO 11731).

Increased sensitivity with Legiolert® 

Comparing the methods in both potable and non-potable water samples according to the rigorous ISO 17994 protocol, the study found that Legiolert detected more positive results than ISO 11731 and was statistically more sensitive for Legionella pneumophila.

Additionally, Legiolert was compared to ISO 11731 for the detection of all Legionella species, and while ISO 17994 results demonstrate the two methods to be statistically equivalent, Legiolert was found to be more sensitive.

The study found that all Legiolert results were confirmed to be Legionella pneumophila, indicating a specificity of 100% and no false positives. The authors of the study also noted the procedural advantages of Legiolert, and suggest that it is an easier-to-use test that could be performed more frequently than the standard ISO 11731 method.

Legiolert uses bacterial enzyme detection technology to identify and enumerate Legionella pneumophila, the principal cause of Legionnaires' disease. This latest study is notable because it shows that despite being specific to Legionella pneumophila, Legiolert even outperforms ISO 11731 when other Legionella species results are included.

These results convinced the study authors to utilise Legiolert instead of the traditional plate method whenever possible in order to minimise the risk of Legionnaires´ disease in their community.

[1] Full details of the study can be found here

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