California Department of General Services Temporarily Closes Office Building in San Diego Due to Legionella Concerns

The California Department of General Services (DGS) recently ordered the temporary closure of an office building in San Diego where hundreds of people work for multiple state agencies. It was reported that the closure was ordered out of an abundance of caution due to health and safety concerns following the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the building’s water.

Legionella can be found naturally in the environment, typically in water, and in some building water systems. If people inhale contaminated water from a building water system that has not been adequately maintained, they could potentially develop Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever. Tragically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal in up to 10% of diagnosed cases. This is why the agency reports that buildings may need a water management program to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease associated with building water systems and devices.

“Routine environmental sampling for Legionella is one practical way to validate the efficacy of a water management program to confirm the program is working as intended,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Proactive environmental sampling for Legionella should not be done in isolation, but rather be a part of a comprehensive water management program that takes into account decisions about sampling frequency, location and methodology.”

In California, LA Testing offers rapid environmental test methods and sampling supplies to validate the efficacy of water management programs to confirm proactive efforts to mitigate Legionella exposure risks are effective. These same tests can also be instrumental in helping to pinpoint the source of an infection or outbreak if one has already occurred.

To learn more about sampling for Legionella or other environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

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