Submitting Specimens for Legionella Testing

Key points

  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø primarily performs culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction to identify Legionella.
  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø also performs Legionella molecular characterization.
  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø doesn't use direct fluorescent antibody stain or serological testing as routine diagnostic methods.
  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø only accepts specimens from state public health laboratories and other federal agencies.
A laboratorian technician unpacks environmental samples for Legionella testing.

Specimen acceptance criteria

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø only accepts various specimen types for Legionella testing from public health laboratories and other federal agencies.

Specimens from private healthcare providers and institutions must be submitted to a public health department laboratory for appropriate processing. Public health department laboratory staff can forward approved specimens to ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø for specialized testing.

Specimen, documentation, packaging, and shipping

Specimen requirements vary by the specific test requested.

The following links provide information on specimen, documentation, packaging, and shipping requirements:

Common rejection criteria

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's laboratory most commonly rejects specimens for Legionella testing for the following reasons:

  • Unacceptable specimen type
  • Specimens stored, shipped, or received at incorrect temperatures
  • Improperly labeled specimens

Resources


Laboratories are able to test their proficiency at isolating Legionella from simulated environmental samples. This program issues documentation to those who pass the proficiency test.


This reference center accepts testing requests from governmental public health or environmental laboratories. It performs Legionella testing on clinical specimens and isolates, as well as environmental isolates and outbreak samples.

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; National Center for Environmental Health