Legionella bacteria are of public health significance due to their ability to cause potentially fatal respiratory tract infections. If Legionella reaches significant numbers in cooling towers, showers or taps, it is possible for the bacterium to be transmitted to people via small droplets.
Traditional methods to screen for Legionella are labour-intensive and time-consuming, taking up to 10 days to return a result. Veriflow Legionella from Invisible Sentinel is a molecular detection method that returns results in around 4 h.
Based on the company’s DNA Signature Capturing Technology, Veriflow Legionella will detect 10 cfu/mL in water and environmental samples, without the need for filtration and with only basic sample prep. The test requires little equipment, making the technology accessible to all laboratories.
The assay has undergone CDC ELITE proficiency testing and was able to correctly identify Legionella in all samples, in addition to being able to distinguish between viable and non-viable organisms. The ability to detect Legionella in such a short time should allow for earlier intervention, which may assist in preventing outbreaks.
The product is available in Australia from Australasian Medical and Scientific Limited.
Original Article: Invisible Sentinel Veriflow Legionella same-day test