Legionella – Serum Antibody

Discontinuation of Legionella Serum Antibody Testing

As the result of a test utility, performance and mandate review, Public Health Ontario (PHO) Laboratory will discontinue the following testing, effective February 7, 2020:

• Legionella serum antibody testing

Legionella serology is of little clinical and public health value, and preferred methods for testing for Legionella infection are recommended. Specifically, urine antigen testing, culture and PCR for the assessment of clinical samples submitted for testing will continue to be performed at the PHO Laboratory.

Public Health Ontario Laboratory

PHO Laboratory provides clinical and environmental microbiology laboratory testing and related expert advice, services and research in support of the prevention and control of infectious diseases for Ontario. Conducting a wide range of reference, diagnostic, and confirmatory tests, our laboratory serves public health units, hospitals and community laboratories, long-term care homes, clinicians in private practice, and private citizens to inform preventative and therapeutic interventions and provides outbreak support for public health action in Ontario. PHO Laboratory additionally provides knowledge translation to hospital and community laboratories, enabling rapid response to infectious diseases. PHO Laboratory collaborates with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Manitoba, other provincial laboratories, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. Our Laboratory activities are consistent with the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network core functions.

For more information, please contact:

PHO Customer Service Centre at 416-235-6556 or 1-877-604-4567 (toll-free), or by email at customerservicecentre@oahpp.ca