Mold Bacteria Consulting Laboratory, British Columbia, Alberta

Listeria: How to avoid food poisoning caused by Listeria

Lyn Gandham — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:18:33 +0000

Public awareness of the bacterium Listeria, an opportunistic pathogen, has been on the rise in recent years as the number of reported cases of listeriosis continues to grow. Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The number of reported cases in Canada rose from 85 in 2003 to 239 in 2008.

In 2008, a widespread outbreak of listeriosis originated from a Maple Leaf Foods Bartor Road facility in North York, Ontario which caused infection in 57 people and took the lives of 23 of them (Table 1). In other words, 40% of the people affected in this outbreak died of this serious illness. 119 meat products produced by Maple Leaf Foods Bartor Road plant were recalled. It is believed that contamination with L. monocytogenes likely occurred during packaging.

Table 1. Listeria monocytogenes outbreak 2008

Province	Confirmed Cases	Deaths where Listeriosis was the underlying or contributing cause*
Ontario	41	16
BC	5	2
Alberta	2	1
Saskatchewan	2	1
Manitoba	1	0
Quebec	5	2
New Brunswick	1	1
Total	57	23

*As recorded on death certificate or as assessed by attending physician.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/listeria/listeria_20100413-eng.php

Occurrence

Most healthy individuals exposed to Listeria are usually at low risk of infection because our immune systems are strong enough to clear the bacterium from our bodies. Some healthy individuals and children can become infected but, they rarely become seriously ill. In fact, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, of the 11 to 13 million annual cases of food-related illness in Canada, listeriosis cases are in the low hundreds. However, although this infection is rare, it causes serious health effects to those at risk and is responsible for ¼ of the deaths of all reported foodborne illnesses. The population at highest risk for listeriosis are infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune symptoms.

Health Effects and Treatment

Most foodborne related bacteria, such as Salmonella cause infection within 12-72 hours after eating contaminated food. However, Listeria is unusual in that it can take 3 to 70 days (with a median of 3 weeks) for a mild or invasive infection to start. Once an infection occurs in humans, 1 out of 5 people die. Another difficulty when dealing with Listeria is that early symptoms of listeriosis can easily be mistaken for the flu. Generally, listeriosis is not diagnosed until laboratory reports of L. monocytogenes have been cultured from blood, cerebrospinal fluid or amniotic fluid.

The most common symptoms of listeriosis are:

Sepsis (blood stream infection): infection results in high fever and very ill appearance. Infection of the heart valves and other organs can occur.
Infection of the central nervous system (typically meningitis): results in high fever, intense headaches, neck stiffness, altered consciousness and convulsions.
Miscarriage, still birth or premature delivery of a newborn. The infected pregnant mother may have a mild flu-like illness however; it can affect newborns by penetrating the endothelial layer of the placenta. If the baby is infected at the time of birth, it can develop a blood stream infection or meningitis.

Antibiotics such as ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and azithromycin are usually given intravenously to treat listeriosis. In spite of treatment however, 20-30% of cases results in death.

Disease Transmission

The majority of listeriosis cases reported are foodborne and result from eating food contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Listeria has been found in uncooked meats such as cold cuts/deli meats and hot dogs, raw and smoked fish, raw vegetables, fresh fruit such as cantaloupes, unpasteurized (raw) milk, unpasteurized dairy products and soft cheeses like feta, Brie or Camembert. Listeria can also be found in soil, stream water, sewage, and plants. Vegetables and plants can become contaminated with Listeria from soil, water or manure-based fertilizers. Farm animals that appear healthy can carry Listeria to contaminate meats and dairy products.

Listeria monocytogenes can grow in temperatures from 4ºC (refrigerator temp) to 37ºC (body’s internal temp).

Prevention

Everyone has a role to play in ensuring the consumption of safe foods. Manufacturers of foods such as the Maple Leaf Foods Bartor Road plant must go above and beyond to ensure the necessary measures are taken to prevent another outbreak. From the CEO to the night janitor, all involved have a part to play. Ensuring proper sanitation and removal of all possible sources of Listeria growth and, monitoring and auditing of safe practice procedures must be performed daily. Manufacturers of food processing equipment are responsible for the proper design of food processing equipment that will enable thorough cleaning and disinfection as well as efficient and complete disassembly and assembly for effective cleaning.

Preventing Listeria growth requires effective sanitation of food contact surfaces. The four main types of sanitizers used in the meat industry are hot water, chlorine, iodophors and quatnerary ammonia. Quaternary ammonia and iodophors are the most effective when combined with post-processing steam and heat treatments. Alcohol alone is also effective against Listeria. Increasing the duration of contact time on food contact surfaces will improve sanitization procedures.

Precautionary measures need to be taken when preparing foods likely to contain Listeria such as ensuring raw vegetables are thoroughly washed before eaten. Those especially at risk should avoid consumption of refrigerated pâtés, smoked seafood, unpasteurized milk and milk products. Risks groups should also avoid eating luncheon meats, deli-meats and hot dogs unless they are steaming hot. Listeria can even survive and grow in vacuum-packed products. Thus, refrigerated foods in the home should be kept below 4 ºC to discourage Listeria growth.

The fluids from packages such as hot dogs contain more Listeria than hot dogs themselves. Steps should therefore be taken to avoid the fluid from coming into contact with other foods, cutting boards, utensils, dishes and food preparation surfaces. Hand washing can greatly reduce the spread of contamination.

Sampling of Listeria

Testing for Listeria is typically done using a swab, environmental sponge or the Microbial-Vac system((R)). Food contact surfaces (dairy board, stainless steel) or other non-food contact areas suspected of Listeria growth (such as brick, doorways, hall drains, floors, equipment panels, and aprons) can be tested. Specimens for sampling can also be taken from solid foods (such as cheese). Water from sources containing chlorine must be collected in a pre-sterilized bottle containing sodium thiosulfate. Samples must be collected and delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Sample Handling and Storage

Optimal temperature conditions during transport and storage is below 4˚C. The holding time between collection and analysis must not exceed 48 h for water samples. All samples must be labeled according to the chain of custody.

Test Methods

Here at MBL we detect and enumerate Listeria spp. in environmental samples by the 3M^TM petrifilm technique. 3M^TM petrifilm plates are a thin, film, dehydrated, version of the conventional petri dish agar plate. Once a result is positive for Listeria spp., a confirmation step is performed. Benefits of this method are:

It is a cost effective tool for the detection of environmental Listeria.
Its quantitative results allow identification of hot spots in plant and you can track Listeria over time.
Rapid turnaround time of results from sample collection; as little as 2-4 business days. Other methods of Listeria testing can take up much longer because of the increased number of steps and longer incubation times.
It is safer and more reliable than other methods because it does not require an enrichment step which would increase exposure to potentially pathogenic Listeria and, it requires no culture transfers.

For more information on our Listeria testing or for a complete list of microbiological tests performed at Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories, please call our Ontario, Mississauga Office at 905-290-9101 or the British Columbia, Burnaby Office at 604-435-6555.

References

“Controlling Listeria Contamination in Your Meat Processing Plant”. Government of Ontario. 27 February 2007. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/meatinsp/controllinglisteria.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-12.

Health Canada. Sept 2006. MFLP-11: Enumeration of Listeria Species in environmental Samples using 3M Petrifilm environmental Listeria plates.

Maple Leaf Foods assessing Listeria-killing chemical. ctv.ca (ctvglobemedia). 2008-10-12. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081012/maple_leaf_foods_081012/20081012?hub=Health. Retrieved 2011-12-15.

“More About Listeria”. University of Florida Medical School. http://www.med.ufl.edu/biochem/DLPURICH/morelist.html. Retrieved 2011-12-18.

Pagotto, Franco, Karine Hébert and Jeff Farber. Feb 2011. Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp.from foods and environmental samples.

Weatherill, Shiela. July 2009. Report of the independent investigator into the 2008 listeriosis outbreak. http://www.listeriosis-listeriose.investigation-enquete.gc.ca/index_e.php?s1=rpt&page=tab. Retrieved 2011-12-12.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/29/listeria-outbreak-us-cantaloupe-melons?newsfeed=true. Retrieved 2011-12-14.

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Canadian Air Quality Testing Laboratory

MBL — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:29:26 +0000

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) is a leading commercial Canadian air quality testing laboratory in North America. Serving mainly the Canadian market, MBL specializes in lab analysis of air and surface samples for fungi (yeasts and mold) and bacteria. MBL is accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accredation (CALA). Routine tests at MBL include:

Bacteria testing: All environmental bacteria including coliforms testing, E. coli testing and Legionella testing
Mold testing: Culturable air samples collected using BioCassette, Andersen, SAS, RCS, etc.
Mold testing: Direct Microscopic Examination including tape, bulk, swab, water and soil samples
Mold testing: Spore trap (or non-viable) samples such as Air-O-Cell, BioAire, and Micro5 cassettes, Allergenco, Burkard and BioSIS slides.
Algae: Water samples, etc.

For more information on our air quality testing laboratory or for a complete list of microbiological tests performed at Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories, please call our Ontario, Mississauga Office at 905-290-9101 or the British Columbia, Burnaby Office at 604-435-6555.

MBL, your indoor air quality testing laboratory.

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Mould Is A Major Problem In Many Homes In British Columbia

MBL — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:07:29 +0000

The damp climate in British Columbia is ideal for mould growth. It is recommended that homeowners or property managers regularly check their buildings for mould growth or water damage in order to correct the problem before it gets out of hand. For people looking for homes to rent or buy, it’s important that you check for signs of mould before moving into a place and take every step possible to prevent mould in your home. Some of the activities that may lead to mould growth include cooking, washing clothes or showering without venting out the moisture. As for tenants, finding mould may not be reason enough to break a tenancy agreement and move out of a place early. Furthermore, your landlord may blame you for causing the mould problem if mould growth was due to your lifestyle.

How To Control mould Growth

Reduce Indoor Humidity By:
- Venting showers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside.
- Controlling humidity levels and dampness by using air conditioners and de-humidifiers.
- Providing adequate ventilation to maintain indoor humidity levels between 30-60%.
- Using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
Inspect the home regularly for signs of mould, moisture, leaks, or spills. The following suggest possible mould growth:
- Mouldy or musty odours.
- Water stains or discoloration on ceiling, walls, floors, and window sills.
Respond promptly when you see signs of moisture and/or mould, or when leaks or spills occur:
- Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours of occurrence to prevent mould growth.
- Fix source of water problem or leak to prevent mould growth.
- Clean mould off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely.
- Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are mouldy, may need to be replaced.
Prevent moisture condensation:
- Reduce potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
Frequently clean floor and carpet :
- Remove spots and stains immediately, using the flooring manufacturer’s recommended techniques.
- Use care to prevent excess moisture or cleaning residue accumulation and ensure that cleaned areas are dried quickly.
- In areas where there is perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting.

If you live in British Columbia and have a mould problem, contact our office at 604-435-6555. We may be able to help you or direct you to people who can help.

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Can Mold, Yeast, and Non-specific Bacteria Cause Bladder Problems?

MBL — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:40:25 +0000

Question: I love your blog and hope you can answer this mold question.

I worked at a beauty salon for 1 1/2 years. I started to have back to back urinary tract infections (Escherichia coli). I’ve had these infections a couple of times in my 40+ years on earth but nothing like I was experiencing this time around. It felt like someone lined my bladder with vicks vapor rub and added some pins. The antibiotics I was prescribed made the pain worse. A client of mine (she came every week and spent a long time under the dryer) was experiencing the same thing. About 2 weeks after the bladder pain started, I started having difficulty breathing (I was diagnosed with moderate lung obstruction) and I was placed on an inhaler. I then noticed a fungal rash on my arms I had to treat with Monistat (it cleared up in 6 days). My symptoms started in early June after a flood in the shop which I suspect could have caused mold growth. Dehumidifiers were bought in and ran all day for a couple of days. By August I had to leave because it was just too difficult to breath, take a flight of stairs etc. My urologist couldn’t find the cause of the pain and an internal view of my bladder found nothing. Can mold, yeast, and non-specific bacteria found in these reports cause bladder problems? The pain got significantly better a week after I left. The pain went away completely after about 2 months away from the salon.

The owner decided to have an air quality test for mold done because a girl that rented the room prior to me complained of breathing difficulties only when she was at work. I attached the mold report for you to look at.

Thanks!

Answer: Escherichia coli (E. coli in short) is a bacterium commonly found in the lower digestive tract of warm-blooded animals including humans. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some strains, such as serotype O157:H7, can cause serious food poisoning. E. coli is also a common cause of urinary tract infections. Infection occurs when E. coli from the digestive tract find their way into the urethra and begin to multiply. The bacterium can move to the bladder and multiply there causing infection of the bladder. I have looked at the lab report that you had attached. The molds reported are unlikely to cause infection. A possible fungal infection of the bladder especially when one has been using antibiotics is Candida infection (candidiasis). Candida can infect other areas of the body including the mouth, throat, skin, scalp, genitals, fingers, nails, bronchi, lungs, and the gastrointestinal tract.

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Mold Bacteria Consulting Laboratory, British Columbia, Alberta - More Than Just Laboratory Results

Sampling For Airborne Fungal Spores

MBL — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:11:24 +0000

Reasons for Conducting Air Sampling For Fungal Spores

Sampling for airborne fungal spores may be conducted for a number of reasons including assessing the air quality, detection of pathogenic organisms, epidemiological surveys and predictions, detection of mycotoxin producing fungi, or detection and measurement of exposure to allergenic fungi and actinomycetes. Before sampling for airborne fungal spores it’s important to have a clear objective and the data that would meet that objective. Some of these objectives require counting and identification of the airborne fungal particulates. A well calibrated pump is therefore required. The method of sampling, the equipment and the media are determined by the data required. For example if one is interested in species identification, then they would collect culturable air samples using an Andersen or RCS sampler.

Methods for Sampling for Airborne Fungal Spores

Culturable Air Samples

If the air was sampled by impaction onto a growth media, then the samples are first incubated at suitable temperature followed by counting and identification of resulting colonies (if any). A number of factors may affect the reliability of the colony counts data. These include the suitability of the agar media used for sampling, colony density, and presence of fast growing isolates. Some agar media are highly selective and therefore would not suitable when the objective was to determine the diversity of fungal species in the air. If the colony density is very high, then counting becomes difficult. In the presence of fast growing isolates, slow growing isolates are masked and hence difficult to count.

Non-culturable Air Samples

The second method of air sampling is where the air is impacted on inert medium, usually a filter membrane or adhesive-coated slide. The collection medium is then analyzed by transmitted light microscopy (popularly known as direct microscopic examination), typically at 600–1000 × magnification. A number of different collection devices may be used for spore trap sampling of which the most common are slit or circular impactors such as the Air-O-Cell®, Allergenco D, Micro 5, Cyclex D and other similar cassettes. Mixed cellulose ester membrane (MCEM) filters are also occasionally used.

Choose Your Spore Trap Analytical Labs Wisely

Identification of airborne fungal spores to species can only be accomplished by an experienced mycologist. Similarly, spore trap analysis requires considerable skill and experience on the part of the analyst to identify spores accurately, and to differentiate them from other airborne particulate. In most cases identification of airborne fungal spores by direct microscopic examination is limited to genus. In some cases identification of spores to specific genus is difficult. A good spore trap analyst requires several years of experience. A recent multi-laboratory comparative study of spore trap analyses found that only 75% of commercial accredited labs could consistently identify correctly Cladosporium spores and only 50% could identify Aspergillus/Penicillium-like spores consistently. The level of experience required for species identification or spore trap analysis cannot be attained in a short time, and it cannot easily be acquired by individuals lacking advanced training in mycology or plant pathology.

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories is accredited by CALA to the Internationally recognized ISO/IEC 17025:2005. For a full scope of accredited tests click Scope of Accreditation.

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MBL Is Accredited To ISO/IEC 17025:2005

MBL — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:39:48 +0000

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories is accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) to the internationally recognized ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard.

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Standard

When a laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005, the laboratory and its clients are assured that the lab has met defined standards for performance based on examination of a variety of criteria. CALA assess participating laboratories to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17011 standard. Granting of CALA accreditation requires a laboratory to successfully complete an initial site assessment and to maintain accreditation the laboratory must successfully complete a site visit a year following the initial visit and every two years thereafter.

Scope of Accreditation

MBL Certificate of Accreditation

MBL is accredited for specific analyses of fungi and bacteria in culturable and non-culturable air samples, water samples, surface samples, and bulk samples. We’re also accredited for Legionella testing. For the full scope of our accreditation, please click MBL Accreditation.

Canadian Accrediting Bodies

There are two Canadian based accrediting bodies, the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc.(CALA) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Both of these accrediting bodies are recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) as equally competent accreditors of testing and/or calibration laboratories. Read more…Joint SCC/CALA Statement – References to Laboratory Accreditation in Requests for Proposal / Bids

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Mold Bacteria Consulting Laboratory, British Columbia, Alberta - More Than Just Laboratory Results

Is There a Difference Between Total Microbe Test and Total Coliform Test?

MBL — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:26:26 +0000

Question: Is there a difference between total microbe test and a total coliform test. What do the following results mean as far as safe drinking water is concerned, (5-10)(10-20)(400-500) (800-1000) Colony forming units(CFUs) of aerobic bacteria?

Thank you.

Answer: There is a difference between total microbes test and total coliform test. The former is a non-specific test for everything including the coliforms (if they are present). This test is commonly referred to as Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) or Total Aerobic Plate Count. HPC does not give an indication of the types of organisms present or their sources. The total coliform test is designed to detect bacteria belonging to the coliform group.

I am not sure whether the results above were CFUs per litre or per 100 mL. Assuming these were per 100 mL of water the first set of results would be considered insignificant provided coliforms were not present. The second two sets of results suggests the water is either not properly treated or is getting contaminated after treatment.

Below are the Health Canada Microbiological Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

Guidelines for microbiological parameters

Currently available detection methods do not allow for the routine analysis of all microorganisms that could be present in inadequately treated drinking water. Instead, microbiological quality is determined by testing drinking water for Escherichia coli, a bacterium that is always present in the intestines of humans and other animals and whose presence in drinking water would indicate faecal contamination of the water.

Bacteriological guidelines

Escherichia coli

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of Escherichia coli in public, semi-public, and private drinking water systems is none detectable per 100 mL.

Testing for E. coli should be carried out in all drinking water systems. The number, frequency, and location of samples for E. coli testing will vary according to the type and size of the system and jurisdictional requirements.

Total coliforms

The MAC of total coliforms in water leaving a treatment plant in a public system and throughout semi-public and private supply systems is none detectable per 100 mL.

For distribution systems in public supplies where fewer than 10 samples are collected in a given sampling period, no sample should contain total coliform bacteria. In distribution systems where greater than 10 samples are collected in a given sampling period, no consecutive samples from the same site or not more than 10% of samples should show the presence of total coliform bacteria.

Testing for total coliforms should be carried out in all drinking water systems. The number, frequency, and location of samples for total coliform testing will vary according to the type and size of the system and jurisdictional requirements.

Heterotrophic plate count

No MAC is specified for heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria in water supplied by public, semipublic, or private drinking water systems. Instead, increases in HPC concentrations above baseline levels are considered undesirable.

Emerging pathogens

No MAC for current or emerging bacterial waterborne pathogens has been established. Current bacterial waterborne pathogens include those that have been previously linked to gastrointestinal illness in human populations. Emerging bacterial waterborne pathogens include, but are not limited to, Legionella, Mycobacterium avium complex, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Helicobacter pylori.

Protozoa

Although Giardia and Cryptosporidium can be responsible for severe and, in some cases, fatal gastrointestinal illness, it is not possible to establish MACs for these protozoa in drinking water at this time. Routine methods available for the detection of cysts and oocysts suffer from low recovery rates and do not provide any information on their viability or human infectivity. Nevertheless, until better monitoring data and information on the viability and infectivity of cysts and oocysts present in drinking water are available, measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of illness as much as possible. If the presence of viable, human-infectious cysts or oocysts is known or suspected in source waters, or if Giardia or Cryptosporidium has been responsible for past waterborne outbreaks in a community, a treatment and distribution regime and a watershed or wellhead protection plan (where feasible) or other measures known to reduce the risk of illness should be implemented. Treatment technologies in place should achieve at least a 3-log reduction in and/or inactivation of cysts and oocysts, unless source water quality requires a greater log reduction and/or inactivation.

Viruses

Although enteric viruses can be responsible for severe and, in some cases, fatal illnesses, it is not possible to establish MACs for enteric viruses in drinking water at this time. Treatment technologies and watershed or wellhead protection measures known to reduce the risk of waterborne outbreaks should be implemented and maintained if source water is subject to faecal contamination or if enteric viruses have been responsible for past waterborne outbreaks. Where treatment is required, treatment technologies should achieve at least a 4-log reduction and/or inactivation of viruses.

For more details on Canadian Guidelines for drinking water click Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

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What Is Deemed Acceptable Indoor Airborne Mold Spore Levels In Ontario?

MBL — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:33:06 +0000

Question: Is there any government or industry standard as to what is deemed an acceptable indoor airborne mold spore levels in Ontario? The electrical inspector refuses to come on our property even though we have had several air test performed. The qualified tester says we have samples of mold but found them to be acceptable. I was hoping for some clarity on this matter.

Answer: Currently there is no government or industry standard as to what is deemed acceptable indoor airborne mold spore levels. However, it’s generally agreed that mold in indoor environments is a health hazard. However, the higher the airborne mold spore levels in a building the higher the health risk. In 2007 Health Canada published the Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines: Moulds.

This is what Health Canada’s Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines say about exposure limits:

Health Canada considers that mold growth in residential buildings may pose a health hazard.
Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on allergic sensitization. However, the
large number of mold species and strains growing in buildings and the large inter-individual variability
in human response to mold exposure preclude the derivation of exposure limits. Therefore, Health Canada recommends:

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to prevent mold growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mold growing in residential buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mold species found to be growing in the building.

Further, in the absence of exposure limits, results from tests for the presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of building occupants.

So currently there is no acceptable or unacceptable indoor airborne mold Spore levels in Ontario.

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Mold Bacteria Consulting Laboratory, British Columbia, Alberta - More Than Just Laboratory Results

What’s The Chance Of Getting A Positive Result For Legionella Tests?

MBL — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:01:01 +0000

Question: Hi, I am a student working on an environmental research project. I’m considering to have some water sample tested for Legionella species especially Legionella pneumophila. From your experience, what is the chance of getting a positive result for the tests? How much does the tests cost, for both PCR and culturable methods?

Thank you for your attention.

Answer: Legionella species are ubiquitous in natural and artificial water environments worldwide. They survive in a wide range of environmental conditions. Chances of getting positive Legionella results from water depends on the following:

The Source of water. Legionella species thrive at temperatures between 20 °C and 50 °C. Therefore, the bacteria are rarely found in municipal water supplies. They tend to colonize warm water systems and point-of-use devices, particularly hot-water systems.

Isolation method. Legionella species are usually a very minor component of the total bacterial population in environmental samples and are rarely present in high numbers. Thus, it’s possible to get negative results if the bacteria in the sample were not concentrated prior to analysis.

Concentration: Legionella may be present in concentrations too low to be detected using culture methods.

Currently we use cultural methods for Legionella identification. We’re accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) to ISO/IEC 17025:2005. For pricing please call 604-435-6555 in British Columbia or 905-290-9101 in Ontario.

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Do You Have The Normal Values For Various Types Of Mold?

MBL — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:37:17 +0000

Question: Do you have the normal values for various types of mold, i.e. Cladosporium cladosporioides? Thank you.

Answer: Currently there are no widely accepted normal levels for mold spores. In the literature, 3000 spores per cubic meter of air is quoted as the allergenic threshold for Cladosporium. More recently a figure of 4000 spores per cubic meter of air has been cited. For Alternaria, 100 spores per cubic meter of air is cited in the literature as the allergenic threshold.

References

Hollins, P.D., P.S. Kettlewell, M.D. Atkinson, D.B. Stephenson, J.M. Corden, W.M. Millington and J. Mullins. Relationships between airborne fungal spore concentration of Cladosporium and the summer climate at two sites in Britain. International Journal of Biometeorology Volume 48, Number 3, 137-141.

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Mold Bacteria Consulting Laboratory, British Columbia, Alberta - More Than Just Laboratory Results

Mold Bacteria Consulting Laboratory, British Columbia, Alberta

Listeria: How to avoid food poisoning caused by Listeria

Canadian Air Quality Testing Laboratory

Mould Is A Major Problem In Many Homes In British Columbia

How To Control mould Growth

Can Mold, Yeast, and Non-specific Bacteria Cause Bladder Problems?

Sampling For Airborne Fungal Spores

Reasons for Conducting Air Sampling For Fungal Spores

Methods for Sampling for Airborne Fungal Spores

Culturable Air Samples

Non-culturable Air Samples

Choose Your SporeA spore refers to a reproductive structure (similar to a seed in plants) in fungi, bacteria and cryptogams. Trap Analytical Labs Wisely

MBL Is Accredited To ISO/IEC 17025:2005

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Standard

Scope of Accreditation

Canadian Accrediting Bodies

Is There a Difference Between Total Microbe Test and Total Coliform Test?

Guidelines for microbiological parameters

Bacteriological guidelines

Escherichia coli

Total coliforms

Heterotrophic plate count

Emerging pathogens

Protozoa

Viruses

What Is Deemed Acceptable Indoor Airborne Mold Spore Levels In Ontario?

What’s The Chance Of Getting A Positive Result For Legionella Tests?

Do You Have The Normal Values For Various Types Of Mold?

Choose Your Spore Trap Analytical Labs Wisely