Cinnaminson, New Jersey, July 24, 2025
Last month, the County of Berks, Pennsylvania announced it had been made aware of water tests that indicated the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water system of the South Campus facility. The following day, officials notified the public that the building would be temporarily closed, so its water system could be treated. Close to 100 staff were ordered to work from home or out of other facilities.
Legionella can be found naturally in the environment, typically in water, and in some building water systems. Sources of the bacteria may include cooling towers, potable water systems, hot tubs, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, and decorative fountains. Legionella becomes a health concern if it grows and spreads in these water systems. People can be at risk if they inhale contaminated water droplets or mist, causing some vulnerable individuals to develop Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever.
“To support water management programs or to identify the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred, EMSL Analytical offers rapid PCR and Whole Genome Sequencing methods, as well as traditional culture methods, to identify Legionella from environmental samples,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “These same tests can be utilized to confirm remediation and disinfection efforts have been successful after the discovery of the bacteria. One of our Legionella testing laboratories is nearby in New Jersey, and a number of our testing facilities have received the CDC’s Certificate of Proficiency from its Elite Program for Legionella testing. Some are also NYSDOH ELAP Legionella certified.”
To spread awareness of Legionella exposure risks, EMSL has sponsored an educational video that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/ZP9AotQ2_gE
To learn more about Legionella or other infection control testing resources, 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.
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