Fraunhofer IMM has developed a mobile device based on PCR technology for the on-site detection of legionella.

On April 5, 2024, ISO/TS 12869-2:2024 “Water quality: Detection and quantification of Legionella spp. and/or Legionella pneumophila by concentration and genic amplification by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) Part 2: On-site methods”, was published. This document provides the requirements and performance characteristics of the systems intended for on-site/field use (i.e. outside the laboratory) to provide reliable and reproducible results. These requirements are intended to be applied in the bacteriological investigation of all types of water.

Our device prototype fully complies with these requirements. In this new ISO it also states that the qPCR method is expected to distinguish intact bacteria from free DNA, and we have already integrated this into our prototype.

We look forward to new partners who is interested to further verify the performance of our prototype or eventually commercialize it.