Legionella Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, August 21, 2025

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it had published a new website, Legionella in the Indoor Environment. In it, the agency describes Legionella as a type of bacteria that is found naturally in lakes, streams, ponds, other freshwater settings, and in some soils.

 

Unfortunately, the EPA cautions it can also be found in some water distribution systems and plumbing in buildings. Legionella becomes a health concern when it grows and spreads in a building’s water system, such as in water pipes and all devices that use water. Showerheads, sink faucets, and humidifiers can create a mist, or small droplets, which can release the bacteria into the air. People can then become infected with Legionella when they breathe in the mist or small droplets that contain the bacteria. 

 

Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and potentially deadly type of pneumonia, or a milder influenza-like illness known as Pontiac fever.  Fortunately, most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick; however, some individuals may be more susceptible. These include people 50 years or older, current or former smokers, anyone with a weakened immune system or immunocompromised, people with a chronic lung disease or cancer, and those with underlying illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure.

 

“Tragically, the CDC warns that about one in ten people who develop Legionnaires’ disease dies from complications of the illness,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, In. “This is one of the reasons why water management programs to detect Legionella exposure risks from water systems are so important to prevent illnesses, outbreaks, and fatalities.”

 

EMSL Analytical, with decades of experience identifying environmental sources of Legionella, offers traditional culture methods and rapid PCR and Whole Genome Sequencing test methods. A number of their laboratories have received the CDC’s Certificate of Proficiency from its Elite Program for Legionella testing and some are also NYSDOH ELAP Legionella certified. EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video that shares the EPA’s information about Legionella in the indoor environment that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/I900sIkU1Ig

 

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

 

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental, indoor air quality and material testing for mercury, 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.