Chinese authority adopts water monitoring process from rqmicro

In January, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started to use the rqmicro.COUNT measuring device developed by the Schlieren-based firm rqmicro AG in order to monitor potential legionella contaminations in water. Researchers from the CDC in Beijing also used the rqmicro Legionella pneumophila SG 1-15 detection kit to measure legionella bacteria in shower and spa water.

The CDC, an independent agency of the National Health Commission, regards the rqmicro.COUNT as an intuitive, easy-to-use instrument that enables on-site monitoring of legionella, the press release explains. CDC researchers are interested in future studies using the rqmicro method to define different contamination levels, which would allow them to implement precise Legionella risk management processes. Regulations in China stipulate zero tolerance for legionella in central air conditioning units as well as spa, swimming pool and shower water.

According to information from rqmicro itself, the advantages of the rqmicro.COUNT include an ability to quantify living legionella and how easy the instrument is to use. The portable rqmicro.COUNT device allows users to analyze water and generate quantitative data in two hours. This ensures that decision-making processes concerning the operation of water systems are far more straightforward. Conventional microbial detection methods for legionella are time-consuming and often take several days