Cinnaminson, NJ, September 9th, 2020
The state of Virginia passed a bill that will require each school board to maintain a water management program at each public school building to help prevent Legionnaires’ disease by July 1, 2021. In addition to requiring laboratory testing for Legionella bacteria this bill also requires a plan to test for mold.
Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious form of pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria. Those who have weakened immune systems are the most at risk of getting the disease. It is not contagious, but it can be contracted when people breathe in aerosolized water that contains Legionella. This harmful bacteria can also be found in stagnant water pipes due to inactivity in the building.
The 22.1-138 Virginia Law states that “each school board shall maintain a water management program for the prevention of Legionnaires' disease at each public school building in the local school division. Each school board shall validate each water management program on at least an annual basis to maintain the health and decency of such buildings. Each public school shall maintain files related to its water management program, including the results of all validation and remediation activities, and make such files available for review.”
“Proactive monitoring for Legionella can help prevent many needless infections,” said Christopher Goulah, Ph.D., EMSL’s Legionella Program Director. “EMSL has 20 CDC ELITE testing laboratories throughout its network in the United States and Canada. We offer traditional culturing methods and advanced PCR and DNA sequencing test methods to rapidly identify Legionella. Our staff also has expertise in monitoring Legionella and mold programs including all the sampling supplies needed to conduct sampling.”
The law also emphasized the need for mold testing stating, “each local school board shall develop and implement a plan to test and, if necessary, a plan to remediate mold in public school buildings in accordance with guidance issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Each local school board shall (i) submit such testing plan and report the results of any test performed in accordance with such plan to the Department of Health and (ii) take all steps necessary to notify school staff and the parents of all enrolled students if testing results indicate the presence of mold in a public school building at or above the minimum level that raises a concern for the health of building occupants, as determined by the Department of Health.”
For more information about EMSL’s testing services, please email info@EMSL.com or call our Customer Service Center at (800) 220-3675. To view a complete list of EMSL’s laboratory locations, accreditations and capabilities, please visit www.EMSL.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria,
Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at
www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.