Aqua Screen® Water Test System for Rapid Legionella Detection

AquaScreen® is an in vitro test system for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of water pathogens. The test system offers the flexibility of testing a variety of water sources. AquaScreen® combines the filtration of the water sample, the lysis of the precipitated microorganism, the DNA extraction as well as the purification and elution of the DNA in minimal volumes under conditions which are optimal for the subsequent PCR analysis.

PCR Analysis
The Aqua Screen® PCR system is a test for the qualitative and quantitative detection of Legionella spp. and Legionella pneumophila in water samples. The test is based on the polymerase chain reaction.
When using the Legionella Detection Kit for Conventional PCR (ALS or ALPseries), the amplified PCR product is 245 bp long and can be rendered visible directly in the agarose gel. The real-time PCR variant (ALS-QP or ALP-QP series) is designed such that the specific target probe emits fluorescent light at 520 nm.

Superior Technical Features
Complete sample preparation including water filtration, DNA purification and concentration for direct PCR analysis
Sample preparation platform allows for testing of multiple pathogenic water contaminants (additional PCR tests in development)
Results are obtained within 3.5 hours
Hand-on time less than 40 minutes
Qualitative or quantitative determination of contamination level
Real-time PCR variant functions as an Open System Application - for LightCycler®, ABI Prism® (Taqman®) and related devices
Highly sensitive: detection accomplished with 30 legionella particles per sample volume of 100 ml, following filtration of 1 L
Highly specific for serogroups 1 - 14 of Legionella pneumophila, L. longbeachae, L. dumoffii, L. bozemanii, L. gormanii, as well as other human pathogenic species of legionella
Detecting both culturable and "non-culturable" (VBNC) legionella
Reliable: kit contains positive control DNA and internal control DNA for optional PCR quality check

Disclaimer: The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) process is covered by patents owned by Hoffmann-La-Roche, Inc. Use of the PCR process requires a license.