ASTM D5952-96(2002)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
An American National Standard
Designation: D 5952 – 96 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Guide for
Inspecting Water Systems for Legionellae and Investigating
Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease
or Pontiac Fever)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5952; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 3856 Guide for Good Laboratory Practices in Laborato-
ries Engaged in Sampling and Analysis of Water
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers,
D 4840 Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody Procedures
building owners and operators, facility managers, health and
E 645 Test Method for Efficacy of Microbicides Used in
safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1)to
Cooling Systems
a concern that a manmade water system may be contaminated
E 1427 Guide for Selecting Test Methods to Determine the
with the bacteria known as legionellae (see 6.1); and (2)tothe
Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Agents and Other Chemi-
identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires’ disease or
cals for the Prevention, Inactivation, and Removal of
Pontiac fever due to inhalation of airborne legionellae (see
Biofilm
6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to
2.2 APHA Documents:
limit legionella multiplication in water systems and to disinfect
The Public Health Law Manual, Second Edition
potential sources of human exposure to legionellae are beyond
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste-
this guide’s scope.
water, Seventeenth Edition
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
2.3 ASHRAE Documents:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Cooling Towers. Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and Air-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Conditioning Systems and Equipment
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Codes and Standards. Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for
Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment
specific hazard statements.
Water Treatment. Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and Air-
2. Referenced Documents
Conditioning Systems and Equipment
2.4 ASM Documents:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Fifth Edition
D 512 Test Methods for Chloride Ion in Water
2.5 CDC Documents:
D 596 Practice for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia
D 887 Practices for Sampling Water-Formed Deposits
Hospital-Laboratory Diagnosis of Legionella Infections
D 1067 Test Methods for Acidity or Alkalinity of Water
Procedures for the Recovery of Legionella from the Envi-
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
ronment
D 1192 Specification for Equipment for Sampling Water
and Steam in Closed Conduits
3. Terminology
D 1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
3.1 Definitions from Compilation of ASTM Standard Defi-
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
4 nitions.
Atmospheres
3.1.1 air conditioning, n—the simultaneous control of all,
D 2331 Practices for Preparation and Preliminary Testing of
Water-Formed Deposits
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con- 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.05.
duits
Available from the American Public Health Association, 1015 18th St. N.W.,
Washington, DC 20036, USA, 1990, 1989.
Available from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Sampling and Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Analysis of Atmospheres and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.05 Rodgers, F. G., and Pasculle, W., “Legionella,” in Manual of Clinical
on Indoor Air. Microbiology, Balows, A., Ed., American Society for Microbiology, Washington,
Current edition approved May 10, 1996. Published September 1996. DC 20005, USA, 1991, pp. 442–453.
2 9
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02. Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03. USA, 1987, 1992, 1994.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 5952
or at least the first three, of those factors affecting both the 3.2.18 convalescent phase, n— of legionellosis, the recov-
physical and chemical conditions of the atmosphere within any ery phase of infection, typically four to eight weeks following
structure. These factors include temperature, humidity, motion, symptom onset.
distribution, dust, bacteria, odor, and toxic gases.
3.2.19 cooling tower, n—a structure for lowering water
3.1.2 monitoring, n—the continual sampling, measuring, temperature evaporatively by contact with atmospheric air.
recording, or signaling, or both, of the characteristics of water 3.2.20 DFA, adj—direct fluorescent-antibody.
or waterborne material.
3.2.21 dead leg, n—a length of pipe closed at one end or
3.1.3 pH, n—the negative logarithm of hydrogen-ion activ- ending at a fitting through which water flows only when the
ity in aqueous solution or the logarithm of the reciprocal of the fitting is open.
hydrogen-ion activity.
3.2.22 direct fluorescent-antibody test, n—for legionellae,a
3.1.4 sampling, n—obtaining a representative portion of the staining procedure that detects legionella surface antigens
material concerned.
through the use of specific antibodies labelled with fluorescent
3.1.5 scale, n—a deposit formed from solution directly compounds; bacteria to which antibody has attached fluoresce
upon a surface. when viewed under appropriate irradiation.
3.1.6 sludge, n—a water-formed sedimentary deposit. 3.2.23 disinfect, v—to eliminate virtually all pathogenic
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: microorganisms, but not necessarily all microbiological forms,
3.2.1 acute phase, n— of legionellosis, the initial phase of outside the body by direct exposure to chemical or physical
agents.
infection; the first weeks following symptom onset.
3.2.24 drift, n—from water-cooled heat-transfer equipment,
3.2.2 aerosol, n—solid or liquid particles suspended in air.
water droplets carried from a cooling tower or other water-
3.2.3 antibody, n—to legionellae, a substance in blood
cooled heat-transfer system by air movement through the unit;
synthesized in response to legionella antigen that enters the
drift can be confused with condensed water vapor appearing as
body.
steam leaving a unit.
3.2.4 antibody rise, n— in legionella antibody, an increase
3.2.25 drift eliminator, n—a plastic, metal, or wood baffle
in the highest serum dilution at which legionella antibody is
designed to entrain water droplets and to reduce aerosol
detected in a blood sample collected weeks or months after
escape.
legionellosis onset as compared with the highest dilution for a
sample collected before or shortly after illness onset. 3.2.26 evaporative condenser, n—a heat exchanger in
which refrigerant is cooled by a combination of air movement
3.2.5 antigen, n—to legionellae, a legionella molecule that
and water spraying.
stimulates an antibody response by a host immune system.
3.2.26.1 Discussion—Evaporative air coolers (swamp cool-
3.2.6 aseptically, adv—using precautions to prevent con-
ers), which do not produce large numbers of water droplets,
tamination of samples by microorganisms.
have not been associated with legionella transmission to date.
3.2.7 back-flow preventer, n—a control valve to prevent
3.2.27 exhaust outlet, n— in a ventilation system, an outlet
reverse flow of water.
from which an air-handling system discharges air outdoors.
3.2.8 bacterium, n—pl. -ria, typically small unicellular
3.2.28 false-negative, adj—incorrectly indicating the ab-
microorganism.
sence of a finding, condition, or disease.
3.2.9 biocide, n—for legionellae, a chemical used to kill
3.2.29 false-positive, adj—incorrectly indicating the pres-
legionellae and other microorganisms.
ence of a finding, condition, or disease.
3.2.10 biofilm, n—a layer of microorganisms contained in a
matrix that may form a slime on surfaces in contact with water. 3.2.30 free residual chlorine, n—the total concentration of
hypochlorous acid and hypochlorites available to act as disin-
3.2.11 CDC, n—Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
fectant.
tion, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia.
3.2.31 genus, n—a taxonomic classification of organisms;
3.2.12 clean, adj—visibly free of sludge, sediment, scale,
the division between the family or tribe and the species; a
biofilm, algae, fungi, rust, corrosion, and extraneous matter.
group of species alike in broad organizational features but
3.2.13 clean, v—to remove sludge, sediment, scale, biofilm,
different in detail.
algae, fungi, rust, corrosion, and extraneous matter by physical
3.2.32 gram-negative, adj—losing the primary violet or
or chemical means.
blue stain during decolorization in Gram’s staining method.
3.2.14 colony, n—of legionellae, a macroscopic group of
3.2.33 HVAC, adj—heating, ventilating, and air-
legionella cells arising from bacterial multiplication on the
conditioning.
surface of semisolid culture medium.
3.2.34 humidifier, n—a device for adding moisture to air by
3.2.15 colony-forming unit, n— of legionellae, a colony
boiling, spraying, or atomizing water.
arising from the multiplication of one or a cluster of viable
3.2.35 IFA, adj—indirect fluorescent-antibody.
legionellae.
3.2.36 immunocompromised, adj—a person’s state when the
3.2.16 confirmed case, n— of Legionnaires’ disease, a case
of physician-diagnosed pneumonia verified by at least one body’s natural defenses to infection are below normal.
laboratory test as caused by or associated with legionella 3.2.37 in vitro, adj—(Latin: in glass), refers to laboratory
infection. tests performed in a test tube or other container as opposed to
3.2.17 contamination, n— with legionellae, the presence of a living system; the opposite of in vivo.
legionellae on or in inanimate articles or substances. 3.2.38 in vivo, adj—(Latin: in living), refers to laboratory
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 5952
tests performed in living organisms; the opposite of in vitro. 3.2.57 PCR, adj—polymerase chain reaction.
3.2.58 polymerase chain reaction test, n— a technique for
3.2.39 incubation period, n— of legionellosis, the time
interval between initial contact with legionellae and appear- selecting and amplifying specific genetic sequences.
3.2.59 Pontiac fever, n—a self-limited, short-duration, non-
ance of the first legionellosis sign or symptom.
fatal fever caused by or associated with legionellae.
3.2.40 indirect fluorescent-antibody test, n—for legionella
3.2.60 probable case, n— of legionellosis, the occurrence of
antibodies, a staining procedure that detects serum antibodies
an illness clinically compatible with legionellosis in a person
to legionellae through the use of bacteria fixed on a glass slide;
with a legionella antibody titer of 256 or higher when only a
secondary test antibodies labelled with fluorescent compounds
single blood sample is available.
attach to fixed legionellae/serum antibody complexes and
3.2.61 protozoan, n—pl. -a, single-celled microorganism
fluoresce when viewed under appropriate irradiation.
representing the lowest form of animal life.
3.2.41 infection, n—with legionellae, the entry and devel-
3.2.62 RIA, adj—radioimmunoassay.
opment, or multiplication, of legionellae in humans.
3.2.63 radioimmunoassay test, n—an immunological proce-
3.2.42 inspector, n—a person examining an environment
dure in which a radioisotope-labelled compound is reacted with
for possible contamination with legionellae.
a test material and the attached radioisotope is detected by
3.2.43 investigator, n—a person conducting an epidemio-
various means.
logical investigation of a potential legionellosis outbreak.
3.2.64 sensitivity, n— of a test for legionellosis or legionel-
3.2.44 isolate, n—a microorganism grown from a clinical or
lae, a method’s ability to detect the presence of the disease
environmental sample.
(that is, legionellosis) or the causative agent (that is, legionella)
3.2.45 isolate, v—in vitro growth of microorganisms on
being tested.
culture medium.
3.2.65 serogroup, n—of legionella, a subgroup within a
3.2.46 Legionella, n—a bacterial genus containing at least
legionella species.
30 species and at least 50 serogroups; abbreviated to the first
3.2.66 serology, n—the study of blood serum for evidence
initial when used repeatedly with species names, for example,
of infection, performed by evaluating antigen-antibody reac-
L. pneumophila.
tions in vitro.
3.2.47 legionella, n—pl. -ae, a bacterium in the genus
3.2.67 serum, n—pl. -a, the clear, thin, sticky fluid portion
Legionella.
of blood remaining after coagulation.
3.2.48 legionellosis, n—an illness caused by or associated
3.2.68 source, n—of legionellae, the water system, supply,
with legionella infection; two forms of legionellosis due to
or equipment from which legionellae pass to a host.
inhalation of airborne legionellae are recognized, that is,
3.2.69 species, n—a taxonomic classification of organisms;
Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever.
the division between genus and variety or individual; a group
3.2.49 Legionnaires’ disease, n—an illness characterized by
of organisms bearing a close resemblance in essential organi-
pneumonia and caused by or associated with legionella infec-
zational features.
tion, most often L. pneumophila.
3.2.70 specificity, n— of a test for legionellosis or legionel-
3.2.50 maintain, v—to perform regular and routine activi-
lae, a method’s ability to identify accurately an illness as
ties aimed at preserving equipment, operational standards and
legionellosis or a bacterium as a legionella; a method’s ability
cleanliness; includes inspection, repair, preventive servicing,
to select and distinguish legionella from all other bacteria in the
and cleaning.
same environment.
3.2.51 maintenance program, n—the assembly of relevant
3.2.71 sp
...