Home Reports Health and Medicine Content

Rapid tests can identify Legionella bacteria

next article

10.06.2005

Scientists at SINTEF Health Research in Trondheim have developed rapid tests that can identify Legionella bacteria in water reservoirs or biofilms in only a couple of days.

Senior scientist Catrine Ahlén at SINTEF Health Research emphasises that many laboratories can test for Legionella, but that the Trondheim scientists test for Legionella pneumophila, which is the most common species that causes Legionnaire’s disease. She has been carrying out such tests on a large scale in cruise ships.

Ahlén and her colleague Professor Sten Olaf Hanssen of NTNU have been working on Legionella bacteria for nearly fifteen years.

Erika Catrine Ahlen | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.sintef.no/content/page3____357.aspx

next article