Legionella Testing Services

Salem, New Hampshire, February 14, 2024

In late December, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) published an official Health Alert about several recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease. In the alert, the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) identifies two out-of-state residents that were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after staying at a resort in the state.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia that can result when people inhale water droplets or mists containing Legionella bacteria. Exposure to Legionella can also cause a less severe condition known as Pontiac fever.

The NH DHHS Health Alert shares the following:

Legionella bacteria are aerobic, gram-negative, intracellular pathogens that are commonly found in water and soil. Human infection is typically acquired through inhalation of contaminated water aerosols. Most Legionella infections are sporadic; however, outbreaks can occur and are often associated with exposure to contaminated communal water supplies in large facilities such as hospitals, hotels, or apartment buildings.

“Tragically, several media outlets have claimed that one of the infected individuals has died and the other was hospitalized,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Water testing in cases like this can be instrumental for identifying the source of an outbreak to prevent additional infections. Testing water systems as a part of proactive preventive measures can also be an essential tool for mitigating exposure risks in the first place.”

With multiple laboratories across New England and the East Coast, and dozens more throughout North America, EMSL Analytical offers traditional culturing methods, and rapid PCR and Whole Genome Sequencing methods, to test for Legionella from environmental samples. A number of EMSL’s laboratories have received the CDC’s Certificate of Proficiency from its Elite Program for Legionella testing and some are also NYSDOH ELAP Legionella certified.

To learn more about Legionella or to request sampling supplies, please visit www.LegionellaTesting.com or www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 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, VOCs, 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 EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA 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.