Worldwide, there is an increasing demand for water in a quality that is safe for human consumption. This can only be ensured by regular control data that can be evaluated as quickly as possible.

Since 2011, operators of drinking water systems in the EU, such as landlords of real estate, hotels, hospitals, retirement homes and public buildings, have been obliged to regularly inspect their drinking water systems for legionella infestation.

And that's a good thing, because of the approximately 125,000 people infected in the EU every year, about 10,000 people die from Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella and/or Pontiac fever.

Tests currently used either have low accuracy, require cost-intensive equipment, require many process steps and specialist knowledge, or take a very long time.

Proof of legionella contamination in drinking water is currently provided, for example according to the German Drinking Water Ordinance, using the so-called incubation method, which only shows a result after 8 to 10 days.

And this is where the new Legionella test from SuSAn Water GmbH comes in, which solves all the aforementioned problems and gives you the essential information. Namely, whether there is a health-threatening contamination of your drinking water. And it does so quickly, digitally and reliably

Compared to all other methods, SuSAn's new digital Legionella test reduces individual steps and dramatically shortens the total time to results. The submission for certification to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is in preparation.

It is an antibody-based method that delivers analysis results within just a few minutes. In order to be able to use this technology, SuSAn Water GmbH has modified the sampling process and developed its own filter system, which concentrates the water sample of 3L by a factor of 1:10,000.

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The test operates based on test strips containing corresponding antibodies, which are processed in a multi-patented analysis machine.

The SuSAn system detects over 90% of all Legionella contamination, especially Legionella pneumophila (SG 1-15) with a detection limit of 100 Legionella/ml.

Legionella Non pneumophila are also detected, such as

- Legionella londiniensis - Legionella taurinensis
- Legionella dumoffi - Legionella gormanii
- Legionella anisa

(Foto: Analysis machine)

The multi-patented analysis machine originates from medical technology. It is capable of evaluating test strips based on the ELISA detection principle and providing analysis results within just a few minutes. The test strips are sprinkled with an antibody mix (partly developed by SuSAn-Water GmbH).

To utilize this technology, SuSAn-Water GmbH has modified the sampling procedure and additionally developed its own filtering system, which is being patented.

The analysis machine comes with software installed on a computer, which controls the machine and processes the results of the examination.

The challenge with this analysis method is to concentrate the Legionella count in the water sample while simultaneously reducing the amount of water so that the analysis produces a valid result. Understandably, only minimal amounts of sample material can be processed on the test strip - a water droplet. Therefore, three liters of tap water are filtered to yield this water droplet, ensuring it contains exactly the same Legionella concentration as the entire three-liter sample.

For this purpose, SuSAn-Water GmbH has developed a filter box that utilizes with its special construction to quickly and effectively pass the required amount of water through a filter, which captures any germ sediment. By adding a stabilizer solution, the sample can also be fixed for later analysis.

 (Foto: Filterbox Prototyp)

1. Sample collection

As usual, the water sampling point is prepared to be germ-free by flaming. Subsequently, one liter of water is drained, as is also done in the incubation method.

Then, three liters of water are passed through the pre-prepared SuSAn filter box using the provided hoses. Any remaining water is then drained, and the filter box is filled with the provided stabilizer solution.

2. Transport

If the analysis is not to be carried out on-site immediately, SuSAn-Water GmbH offers a special transport case for convenient and secure transportation of the filter boxes. Unlike the water containers used in the Legionella test with the incubation method, the filter boxes of the digital SuSAn Legionella test do not need to be cooled.

3. Analyse

The sample is taken from the filter box, and antibodies are added to it. A drop of the liquid is applied to the test strip and inserted into the analysis machine.

4. Result

After a few minutes, the result of the examination is available and transferred to the connected computer.

The analysis results are transferred into the evaluation software on the computer and provided in this format as a document.