Phigenics Validation Test – Determining Viable Legionella

The Issue 

Currently, measurement of viable Legionella and other bacteria using standard culture methods require shipment of water samples to an analytical laboratory.  The results typically take 12-14 days which can leave facilities in a holding pattern.  The shipment of water samples can cause unpredictable changes: In some water samples, viable bacteria increase during transit and in other samples they decrease.  When the facility receives their Legionella results, these challenges can make interpretation and decision-making difficult.

The Solution 

The patents pending Phigenics Validation Test (PVT) completely eliminates the need to ship water samples, thereby giving more reliable data about the water system.  The PVT is a field sampling protocol to obtain viable cell counts (CFU/ml) for the following:

* Total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria 

* Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1 and serogroups 2-14)

* All non-pneumophila Legionella species

Data is obtained for the exact moment when the PVT field sampler contacts the water sample

* Shipment of water samples to laboratory is not required

* Time required to obtain results is reduced 75-80% compared to the Standard Method for Legionella

Test results including quantitative viable cell counts, digital photographs of the field samplers and authenticity labels are emailed to the facility, typically within 2-3 days of receipt of the sample in the lab..

The PVT validates under operating conditions in the field that bacterial hazards in water have been eliminated, reduced or prevented from harming people (Principle 7 in Hazard Analysis and Control)

The Benefits 

Compared to the Standard Methods for total bacteria and Legionella, the PVT is:

* More Accurate, because water samples are not compromised during shipment to the laboratory.

* Faster, because transit time is not wasted and microcolonies are enumerated directly on the PVT field samplers.

* More Convenient, because results for total bacteria AND Legionella bacteria are obtained and archived by the Phigenics Analytical Services Laboratory in a standardized protocol for future reference.

More Information… 

If you are interested in how the PVT can address the safety of water systems in your facility, please contact Phigenics (630-717-7546) or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for more information.

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Water Management Plan

Many facility managers depend upon their suppliers who sell products to keep their water systems running properly. In most cases, suppliers recommend only the products they sell. These products can be limited in their cost effectiveness and may not adequately address safety issues. They may even be detrimental with regard to protecting people from hazards in the water system such as waterborne pathogens. For example, many chemicals used are a nutrient to pathogens and can be replaced with much more cost effective options.
Phigenics is owned and managed independently. Our only bias is to recommend the chemical/equipment combinations that maximize operational efficiency, minimize costs and safe water system conditions. Experience has shown us that in most cases, inefficient operations in which water and energy are wasted are the systems in which safety can be substantially improved.
We encourage our clients to manage "in-house" as many of their water-related processes as possible. This almost always saves money, enhances performance and improves safety.

7 Principles of Hazard Analysis & Control
Water Management Plans are based on the 7 principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Control (HACCP) risk management system:

1. Conduct a Hazard Analysis

2. Identify Critical Control Points (CCPs)

3. Establish Critical Limits for each CCP

4. Establish Monitoring System(s) for each CCP

5. Establish Corrective Action Procedures for each Critical Limit

6. Establish Documentation Procedures and Record-Keeping Plan

7. Establish Validation and Verification Procedures

5 Preliminary Steps

In practice, a few preliminary steps are necessary before these seven principles can be applied. They are:

1. Assemble a Phigenics-facilitated HACCP team of facility personnel
2. Identify the end users water especially to determine at-risk consumers
3. Identify all uses for water at the facility
4. Develop process flow diagrams to describe how water is processed in the facility
5. Verify that process flow diagrams are accurate by on-site confirmation