TEST LIKE A PRO
Pioneering Rapid Legionella Detection
The Next Generation in Legionella Detection is Here
Our new innovation, Hydrosense PRO, is just as easy-to-use and accurate as our well-established Hydrosense ONE test but now detects more serogroups of Legionella pneumophila.
The test detects all Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-15 and uses our unique filtration step together with the well-established Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assay (LFICA) technology (same technology used in Covid and pregnancy tests). In a remarkable innovation, the test is a three-line test which isolates the bacteria and distinctly identifies the presence of serogroup 1 on one test line and 2-15 on another, providing key information instantly to the user.
The test is highly sensitive and can detect Legionella levels of 100 CFU/L (0.1 CFU/ml). It also provides action levels at 1,000 CFU/L (1 CFU/ml) and 10,000 CFU/L (10 CFU/ml)º.
ºIf 1,000 CFU/L and 10,000 CFU/L action levels are required please let us know.
Legionella pneumophila is highly virulent - here's why
Our commitment to public health is unwavering, and that’s why we zero in on Legionella pneumophila. Let’s unpack how this potentially deadly bacterium has the power to negatively affect human health:
Intracellular Parasitism:
Legionella pneumophila’s knack for surviving and multiplying inside host cells, especially human lung macrophages, lets it dodge our immune response.
Endotoxin Production:
When this bacterium dies, it releases endotoxins that amplify inflammation in our lungs.
Secretion Systems:
Legionella pneumophila can inject effector proteins into host cells, helping them set up a replicative niche, and sheltering them from our immune defences.
Considering Legionella pneumophila’s virulence and its adaptability it’s a pivotal public health concern. So, the best way to avoid it ever reaching human lungs is to find it, fast!
Key Stats to Know
97%+ of culture-confirmed cases stem from Legionella pneumophila.
90%+ of cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1.
100% of US outbreaks for the last 17 years have been caused by Legionella pneumophila.
40-80% is the death rate in untreated immunocompromised individuals.
10% of people who contracted Legionnaires’ disease in the community will die.
25% of people with Legionnaires’ disease, who contracted it within a healthcare environment, will die.
Sources: ECDC culture-confirmed cases, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9124264/, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/legionellosis https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/about/diagnosis.html
The Benefits of detecting Legionella pneumophila
Improved Public Health Measures:
Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is most often linked with human diseases, but serogroups 2-15 also play an important role in global health issues. So, testing for all serogroups is important for accurate epidemiological data and the formulation of effective public health strategies.
Preventing Outbreaks:
Testing all serogroups of Legionella pneumophila found in various water systems allows for the early identification and elimination of the bacterium, thereby preventing possible outbreaks and protecting revenue and reputation.
Comprehensive Risk Assessment:
Detecting all 1-15 serogroups of Legionella pneumophila allows for a comprehensive understanding of the presence and distribution of this bacterium in any environment. This, in turn, supports accurate risk assessment and enables targeted monitoring and maintenance approaches.
How the test works
If there is only a red line at the C position, neither sg 1 nor sg 2-15 have been detected.
If red lines are present at the 1 and C positions, sg 1 has been detected (≥100 CFU/L).
If a green line is present at the 2 position and a red line at C, sg 2-15 has been detected (≥100 CFU/L).
If lines are present at the 1, 2 and C positions, sg 1 has been detected (≥100 CFU/L) AND sg 2-15 has been detected (≥100 CFU/L).
Which sectors would benefit from Hydrosense PRO?
Any industry where humans interact with water poses a risk of Legionella pneumophila infection. Here are a few specific industries that would benefit greatly from using Hydrosense PRO regularly:
Hospitals and Care Homes:
Hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities, which typically have complex water systems and treat patients with compromised immune systems, can use Hydrosense PRO for early detection which can lead to fast remediation.
Hotels, Spas and Recreational:
Hotels, resorts, and leisure facilities with aerosol-creating water features like showers, pools, spas, and decorative fountains, are a risk for Legionella. Hotels are the number one setting for infection. If Legionella pneumophila is present, it could impact thousands of guests and have very high cost due to remedial work, closures, cancellations, litigation and reputational damage.
Commercial Real Estate:
Owners and managers of commercial buildings with cooling towers or large water systems would find this technology valuable for monitoring and maintaining the safety of their water systems, prioritising public health and assisting regulatory compliance.
Education Environments:
By proactively identifying and addressing sources of Legionella contamination through regular rapid testing, educational institutions can prevent the risk of outbreaks, ensuring a healthy environment for pupils to learn and staff to work within.
Water Treatment Facilities:
These facilities can benefit from this technology to ensure the water they are treating and then distributing is free from Legionella pneumophila, giving confidence that they are not exposing staff to dangerous levels of the bacteria, or introducing it into commercial and domestic water systems.
Shipping and Cruise Liners:
Confined water systems with many cross-contamination opportunities and port-to-ship water transmission can be a serious Legionella risk, putting crew and thousands of passengers in danger of infection. The remote locations make it difficult to get water samples to a lab in good time, but Hydrosense can help protect lives on board as well as a company reputation.
Offshore Operations:
Rapid Legionella testing can be particularly useful in remote locations like oil rigs where transporting samples to a distant lab for analysis can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and potentially less accurate if the sample degrades over time.
Manufacturing Plants:
Manufacturing processing often relies on cooling towers and extensive water systems. Early detection can support remedial action, prevent Legionella outbreaks and subsequent shutdowns which could affect productivity and supply chain reputation.
Validity of the Hydrosense PRO Test
High Sensitivity and Specificity:
The Hydrosense PRO Lateral Flow Test Kit successfully detects L. pneumophila serogroups 1-15 with high sensitivity and specificity, maintaining a high detection level when combined with the filtration kit provided (100 CFU/ L for a 250 mL sample).
Versatile Test Conditions:
Displays robustness under varying conditions without compromising results.
No Cross-Reactivity:
Demonstrates no interference from other common waterborne bacteria or non-pneumophila species of Legionella.
Tolerance to Water Conditions:
Performs reliably even in hard water and high alkalinity conditions.
Why Choose Hydrosense PRO?
Unmatched Speed:
World’s fastest on-site Legionella test. Results in 25 minutes.
Detects VBNC Legionella:
Finds Viable but Non-Culturable Legionella, which lab cultures can not.
Real-Time Results:
Immediate results. No weeks-long wait for lab reports.
Precision:
Detects Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-15, behind 97% of Legionnaires’ disease cases.
Easy-to-use:
Anyone can use the test onsite with minimal training.
TEST LIKE A PRO
Pioneering Rapid Legionella Detection