Microbiology

Name

Alternative name/Profile

Department

Investigation

Specimen type

Sample type

Sample container & volume

Frequency of analysis

Turnaround time

Availability

Notes

Legionella culture is performed on:

• BAL Samples with clinical details of pneumonia/flu-like symptoms.
• Sputum samples with clinical details of suspected Legionella.
• Legionella culture is also performed with clinical details of recent foreign travel - please indicate in clinical details. 

A good quality purulent or mucopurulent sputum specimen should be obtained, preferably before antimicrobial therapy although antimicrobial therapy should not be delayed unnecessarily while awaiting a sputum specimen.  The specimen should be transported to the laboratory within 2 hours.  Salivary or mucosalivary specimens are unsuitable and as such are not processed, unless the patient is immunocompromised.

Legionella Urinary Antigen, a component of the lipopolysaccharide portion of the Legionella cell wall, is also available and is highly specific (>99%) for the diagnosis of Legionellosis. Sensitivity is similar to that of culture (80-85%) but may be associated with the clinical severity of disease.Legionella antigenuria can be detected as early as 1 day after onset of symptoms and may remain positive for several weeks, even after other tests have become negative.

 Sample should be refrigerated if not transported immediately to laboratory

Related links

UK Standards of Microbiology Investigation of bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum and associated specimens.

Reference range

Not Applicable

Last updated

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:47:46 IST