Legionella Urine Antigen
Private Legionella Urine Antigen testing in London for £164.99, using a urine sample to support rapid assessment of Legionnaires’ disease.
Turnaround time
2 business days
Biomarkers count
1
Book your test
Choose Service Type
Professional phlebotomist comes to you
+ £{{ home_visit_fee }}
Visit our clinic for your test
{{ clinic_visit_fee > 0 ? '+ £' + clinic_visit_fee : 'Free' }}
Home Visit Details
Home visits require at least 24 hours notice.
Select a clinic: Sorting by distance…
{{ clinicAddress(clinic) }}
{{ clinicAddress(selectedClinic) }}
Select a date
Select an hour
Available time slots: {{ timeSlots.length}}
Overview of the Legionella Urine Antigen
The Legionella Urine Antigen test detects antigen from Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in urine and is widely used to support rapid investigation of suspected Legionnaires' disease.
The test contains 1 biomarker: Legionella Urine Antigen.
Legionnaires' disease is a potentially serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for a substantial proportion of recognised Legionnaires' disease cases, which is why urine antigen testing is clinically valuable.
Unlike antibody testing, the urine antigen test looks for bacterial antigen associated with current or recent infection rather than waiting for the immune system to develop antibodies.
This can allow useful detection relatively early during illness.
The test is also convenient because it requires a urine specimen rather than respiratory sampling.
However, the principal limitation is important: a negative urine antigen result does not exclude infection with all Legionella species or serogroups.
Other Legionella infections may require respiratory PCR, culture or additional microbiological investigations.
Antigen may also remain detectable for a period after the acute infection, so the result should be considered with symptoms and timing.
A positive result in a patient with compatible pneumonia requires clinical management and should not be treated as a routine wellness finding.
What Does the Legionella Urine Antigen Test Check?
This test directly detects urinary antigen from Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 and is therefore more closely associated with active or recent Legionella infection than antibody serology. This test measures 1 biomarker.
Legionella Urine Antigen
Detects Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine to support rapid investigation of suspected Legionnaires' disease.
Who May Benefit From the Legionella Urine Antigen Test?
The test is most relevant when Legionella is being considered as a cause of an acute pneumonia-like illness.
People with pneumonia and relevant Legionella risk factors - Urine antigen testing can support rapid diagnosis.
People with severe community-acquired pneumonia - Legionella may need to be considered as one possible cause.
People who developed pneumonia after hotel or hospital exposure - Water-system exposure can increase clinical suspicion.
People exposed during a known Legionella outbreak - Rapid testing may contribute to case identification.
Older adults with severe pneumonia - Risk of serious Legionnaires' disease increases with age and other health factors.
People with weakened immunity and compatible respiratory illness - Immunosuppression can increase the risk of severe disease.
Smokers or people with chronic lung disease who develop severe pneumonia - These are recognised clinical risk contexts.
People specifically advised to obtain Legionella urine antigen testing - The test should be used within an appropriate infectious-disease assessment.
How to Prepare
Do not delay antibiotic treatment or medical assessment in severe pneumonia simply to collect the test before treatment.
The result is intended to support clinical management, not replace it.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Legionella Urine Antigen Test
Legionnaires' disease usually presents as an acute systemic and respiratory illness and can deteriorate rapidly.
High fever - Significant fever is common in Legionnaires' disease.
Cough - The cough may initially be dry but can vary.
Shortness of breath - Pneumonia can impair normal oxygen exchange.
Chest discomfort with pneumonia symptoms - Respiratory infection can cause pleuritic or general chest discomfort.
Severe muscle aches - Systemic symptoms can accompany Legionella infection.
Headache - A prominent headache may occur.
Diarrhoea or gastrointestinal symptoms with pneumonia - Gastrointestinal features can occur alongside respiratory illness.
Confusion or disorientation - This can occur in more severe infection and requires prompt assessment.
Pneumonia after a hotel, hospital, cruise or water-system exposure - Epidemiological history can raise suspicion for Legionella.
Significant shortness of breath, confusion, persistent high fever, low oxygen levels or severe pneumonia symptoms require urgent medical assessment.
Do not wait for a private test result before seeking treatment when serious Legionnaires' disease is suspected.
How to Book Your Legionella Urine Antigen Test
The Legionella Urine Antigen test can be arranged privately using an appropriately collected urine specimen.
Choose the Legionella Urine Antigen
Select the individual Legionella Urine Antigen test.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an appropriate clinic or home collection pathway and obtain the required urine container.
Attend your appointment
Provide the urine specimen according to the collection instructions.
Laboratory analysis
The specimen is analysed for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and should be reviewed promptly if positive or if significant respiratory symptoms are present.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current expected turnaround for the Legionella Urine Antigen test is approximately 2 days after the urine specimen reaches the laboratory.
This is considerably faster than many antibody-based infectious-disease tests because it detects bacterial antigen directly in urine.
The result is released after analysis, quality-control procedures and laboratory authorisation.
Turnaround begins from laboratory receipt rather than from the time the specimen is collected.
Where severe pneumonia is present, clinical treatment decisions should not be postponed while waiting for this result.
Understanding Your Results
A negative result means Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen was not detected by the assay.
This reduces the likelihood of infection with this specific serogroup but does not exclude all Legionella infections.
Other Legionella species and serogroups may require respiratory PCR or culture.
A positive result supports current or recent infection with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in the appropriate clinical context.
A positive result in someone with pneumonia requires medical review and appropriate antimicrobial treatment.
Because urinary antigen can persist after infection, results should be interpreted with the timing of symptoms and treatment.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
This test provides rapid, non-invasive access to an important microbiological marker used during Legionella investigation.
Detects Legionella antigen directly - Does not rely on development of an antibody response.
Useful during acute illness - Can support earlier investigation of suspected Legionnaires' disease.
Urine-based testing - No venous blood specimen is required for this individual test.
Important serogroup coverage - Detects Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1.
Specialist microbiology analysis - Samples are processed through an appropriate laboratory pathway.
Secure reporting - Receive your authorised result confidentially.
Clear pricing - The Legionella Urine Antigen test costs £164.99.
Private Legionella Urine Antigen Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Legionella Urine Antigen testing for people undergoing investigation of suspected Legionnaires' disease.
The test costs £164.99 and measures 1 biomarker.
Results are expected approximately 2 days after laboratory receipt.
A negative result does not exclude infection with Legionella organisms not detected by the serogroup 1 urine antigen assay.