Legionella culture identification
Registry Details
| Area | Health Science |
| Lab name | Legionella Reference Laboratory |
| Lab location | Kenepuru Science Centre, Porirua |
| Test name | Legionella culture identification |
| Organisms | Any presumptive Legionella isolate |
| Requested for surveillance | yes |
| Notice required | no |
| Routine turnaround time | 5 working days |
| Culture requirements | Pure culture |
| Media requirements | BCYE-α plate or slope |
| Pre-transport requirements | Send without delay |
| Transport requirements | Culture isolates must be sent in a sealed container at ambient temperature on solid media |
| Unacceptable sample types | Mixed culture will delay result reporting |
| How results reported | Identification to the species and serogroup level for Legionella bacteria. Non-Legionella bacteria will not be identified. |
| Referral link | Form |
Details
Basic biochemistry tests including iron salts & L-cysteine dependence. Gram-staining and growth studies are also carried out.
Identity of Legionella species and serogroup is determined using a panel of species-specific labelled antibodies and/or molecular methods.
Information sheet on Legionella and Legionellosis [PDF, 137 KB]