Hydrosense is the pioneer of the world's fastest testing solutions for water and biofilm. Designed for precision and ease, these tests are crucial for healthcare and complex water system management.
Legionella pneumophila, responsible for the majority of Legionnaires' disease cases in Europe and all cases in the U.S. over 17 years, has a mortality rate up to 25% in healthcare settings and 40-80% among the untreated immunocompromised. With its ability to double in 24 hours, rapid detection is essential. Traditional lab tests take too long and are dangerously inadequate in the face of Legionella’s rapid proliferation.
The stakes are particularly high in healthcare settings where the patient demographic often includes groups that are highly susceptible to Legionnaires' disease including the immunocompromised, the elderly, and those frequently in contact with water systems or specific medical equipment. An effective water management strategy, encompassing regular monitoring and immediate corrective actions, is a critical first line of defence.
And the risk doesn’t stop at patients, staff are potentially exposed to contaminated aerosols if water outlets used to maintain sanitisation standards are themselves not tested and maintained. Research has highlighted 50% of non-contact taps are infected with Legionella.
Hydrosense tests utilise Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assay (LFICA) technology - like familiar rapid tests for COVID-19 and pregnancy. This technology specifically detects Legionella pneumophila antigen. Hydrosense ONE is adept at identifying Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, the culprit in over 90% of Legionnaires' cases, while Hydrosense PRO expands its detection spectrum to find serogroups 1-15, therefore targeting most of the risk. Both tests deliver results within 25 minutes, allowing for swift interventions and drastically reducing the window for an outbreak to occur.
In detail, the Hydrosense product suite includes:
Hydrosense ONE Ultra Water Test, designed to detect Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in water at concentrations as low as 100 Colony Forming Units per litre (CFU/L).
Hydrosense ONE Swab Test, tailored for identifying Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 on surfaces, with a detection threshold of 200 CFU per swabbed area.
Hydrosense ONE Industrial Kit, a comprehensive package for repeated testing of water sources, pinpointing Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 at 100 CFU/L.
The Hydrosense PRO Ultra Water Test, a broader spectrum test that detects Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-15 at 100 CFU/L.
Hydrosense's innovative approach to Legionella testing is transforming healthcare facility management, providing quick, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions that prioritises patient and staff safety.