AS 5132:2017 PDF

AS 5132:2017 PDF

Specifies a method for isolating and estimating the number of Legionella pneumophila and a range of other Legionella spp. in water with low microbial loads.

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee FT-020, Water Microbiology, as a new Standard to complement AS 3896:201X, Waters—Examination for Legionellae spp including Legionella pneumophila. This Standard stems from a need, expressed by health authorities and other stakeholders, for a standard method for the enumeration of legionellae in waters with low background microflora in treated water systems, particularly in reticulated water systems supplying warm water systems.

Committee FT-020 did not recommend the adoption of ISO 11731:1998, Water quality—Detection and enumeration of Legionella, and ISO 11731-2:2004, Water quality—Detection and enumeration of Legionella, Part 2: Direct membrane filtration method for waters with low bacterial counts because these two ISO Standards are currently under review.

This Standard is suitable for testing water samples where low microbial loads are expected. The target water matrix for this Standard is samples from reticulated water systems where colonization by Legionella spp. is of public health concern. While this Standard is not restricted to this matrix, it may not be suitable for some environmental samples, such as industrial, waste and natural waters. This is because samples are concentrated and the high microbial loads in these samples could interfere with the detection of Legionella spp., leading to the possibility of false negative results.