AWWA WQTC71353

The objectives of this study were to validate a qPCR-based test method and a commercial test kit for the detection and quantification of Legionella spp. and Legionella pneumophila in water using the AFNOR XP T90-471 method, and to compare qPCR with culture method NF T90-431 for Legionella testing in 38 cooling tower water samples and 5 hot water system samples. In this study, qPCR in conjunction with the commercial test kits used in the present work were relatively simple to use. However, the detection and quantification limits were affected by PCR inhibitors in the DNA extracts from cooling water samples. Therefore, it appears that qPCR cannot become the sole method for Legionella testing offered by the laboratory, and the culture method remains essential. Includes 9 references, tables, figures.