Legionella Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, March 28, 2023

Last month, officials from San Diego State University (SDSU) published a letter to students and staff announcing the temporary closure of the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences (ENS) building on campus. The closure was to allow SDSU’s Environmental and Safety staff to investigate a report of a campus community member who had been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

According to the SDSU announcement:

The campus community member is away from campus and recovering. At this time, it is unknown where the campus community member was exposed to Legionella bacteria but in an abundance of caution, the university is closing the ENS building to perform testing. All students, faculty, staff and visitors must avoid the building until testing is completed and it is cleared for reentry.  

Legionella can be found naturally in the environment, typically in water, and in some building water systems. These man-made sources may include cooling towers, potable water systems, hot tubs, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems and decorative fountains. It can spread to humans if they inhale contaminated water droplets or mist, causing some vulnerable individuals to develop Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever.

“Identifying the source of the Legionella is important as Legionnaires' disease can be fatal in up to 10% of diagnosed cases reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “LA Testing offers rapid environmental test methods to help pinpoint the source of these types of infections. Routine environmental testing for Legionella is also an effective way to validate the efficacy of water management programs to confirm proactive efforts to mitigate Legionella exposure risks are effective.”

To learn more about Legionella or other environmental testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.  

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.