Independent UK comparison
Legionella test kits compared
Postal legionella test kits in the UK cost from about £40 to £85 per sample. You fill a sterile bottle, send it to a laboratory and get a result in roughly two weeks. We compared eight laboratory kits and two rapid tests using each seller's own published details.
Last reviewed October 2026 against HSE guidance.
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Laboratory test kits at a glance
How this comparison works. We are independent of the sellers listed and do not currently receive commission from any of them. Details were read from each seller's own product page in October 2026. Prices and terms change, so check the seller's page before you buy.
| Seller | Price for one kit | Laboratory | Results | Return to lab |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legionella Sampling | £40.00 ex VAT | UKAS-accredited laboratories, ISO 17025 | 7 working days on the product page; 10 to 14 days in its FAQ | Return packaging included |
| Legtest | £45.00 VAT not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Free collection or Post Office drop-off |
| Smartwater Testing | From £45 plus VAT | UKAS accredited laboratory | About 14 days | Free courier collection or Freepost |
| uRisk | £52.00 plus VAT | UKAS accredited laboratory | At least 10 to 14 days | Pre-paid return pack |
| AquaCert | £57.86 check VAT at checkout | UKAS accredited | Usually 14 to 18 days | Free courier pick-up (not Scottish Highlands or UK islands) |
| Watersafe UK | £76.99 inc VAT (£64.16 ex VAT) | UKAS certified analysis by a UK laboratory | 10 to 12 working days after receipt | Pre-paid label and courier collection |
| The HSRA | £75.00 inc VAT | UKAS-accredited laboratory | Up to 14 days from lab receipt | Courier collection or drop-off |
| Feedwater | £82.68 ex VAT | UKAS accredited analysis, in-house laboratory | At least 10 days; positives reported immediately | Special Delivery pre-paid return pack |
Sorted by listed price. Some prices include VAT and some do not, so compare like with like. “Not stated” means the seller's page did not say.
Each laboratory kit in detail
With a laboratory kit you take the sample yourself and the laboratory grows any legionella present on a culture plate. That takes about ten days, which is why no laboratory kit gives a next-day result.
Legionella Sample
Legionella Sampling
£40.00 ex VAT
- Samples
- Not stated
- Laboratory
- UKAS-accredited laboratories, ISO 17025
- Detects
- Not stated
- Results
- 7 working days on the product page; 10 to 14 days in its FAQ
- Return
- Return packaging included
Optional subscription for regular sampling.
View on seller's site →Legionella testing kit
Legtest
£45.00 VAT not stated
- Samples
- Up to 4 hot water outlets per kit
- Laboratory
- Not stated
- Detects
- Not stated
- Results
- Not stated
- Return
- Free collection or Post Office drop-off
Results and certificate by email.
View on seller's site →Legionella Testing Kit
Smartwater Testing
From £45 plus VAT
- Samples
- Bottles based on number of hot outlets
- Laboratory
- UKAS accredited laboratory
- Detects
- Not stated
- Results
- About 14 days
- Return
- Free courier collection or Freepost
Aimed at landlords, care homes, dentists and schools.
View on seller's site →Legionella Testing Kit
uRisk
£52.00 plus VAT
- Samples
- 1 bottle
- Laboratory
- UKAS accredited laboratory
- Detects
- All legionella species (culture)
- Results
- At least 10 to 14 days
- Return
- Pre-paid return pack
Delivery fee applies. Orders posted on Mondays only. Includes a support call.
View on seller's site →Legionella Test
AquaCert
£57.86 check VAT at checkout
- Samples
- 1 bottle (1 litre)
- Laboratory
- UKAS accredited
- Detects
- Over 50 legionella species, with extra analysis for L. pneumophila
- Results
- Usually 14 to 18 days
- Return
- Free courier pick-up (not Scottish Highlands or UK islands)
Outbound postage charged. Report includes risk level and recommendations. Sample must reach the lab within 48 hours.
View on seller's site →Legionella (Laboratory Test)
Watersafe UK
£76.99 inc VAT (£64.16 ex VAT)
- Samples
- 1 bottle
- Laboratory
- UKAS certified analysis by a UK laboratory
- Detects
- L. pneumophila serogroup 1 and serogroups 2 to 14
- Results
- 10 to 12 working days after receipt
- Return
- Pre-paid label and courier collection
Free delivery. 2 to 3 kits £71 each, 4 or more £65 each.
View on seller's site →Legionella Only Testing Kit
The HSRA
£75.00 inc VAT
- Samples
- Not stated
- Laboratory
- UKAS-accredited laboratory
- Detects
- Presence or absence; detection limit typically 100 cfu/l
- Results
- Up to 14 days from lab receipt
- Return
- Courier collection or drop-off
Sample must reach the lab the day it is taken. A legionella plus pseudomonas kit is £120.
View on seller's site →Legionella Water Analysis
Feedwater
£82.68 ex VAT
- Samples
- 1 bottle (250ml) per outlet
- Laboratory
- UKAS accredited analysis, in-house laboratory
- Detects
- Not stated (culture method)
- Results
- At least 10 days; positives reported immediately
- Return
- Special Delivery pre-paid return pack
Volume prices from £72.76 (6 to 10) down to £55.40 (50 or more). Expert interpretation available.
View on seller's site →Rapid legionella tests
Rapid tests work like a lateral flow test and give a reading in about half an hour. They are screening tests. They look for Legionella pneumophila only, and one seller states plainly that its test cannot be used to certify water as safe or unsafe.
Hydrosense One Ultra Rapid Legionella Water Test
Hydrosense, sold by Watersafe UK
£69.99 inc VAT (£58.33 ex VAT)
- Detects
- L. pneumophila serogroup 1 only
- Results
- About 35 minutes
Lateral flow screening test, 100 cfu/l. The seller states it cannot be used to certify water as safe or unsafe.
View on seller's site →Hydrosense Pro Ultra Rapid Legionella Water Test
Hydrosense, sold by Watersafe UK
£79.99 inc VAT (£66.66 ex VAT)
- Detects
- L. pneumophila serogroups 1 to 15
- Results
- 25 minutes plus 10 minutes preparation
Lateral flow screening test, 100 cfu/l. No laboratory involved.
View on seller's site →See laboratory tests versus rapid tests for when each makes sense.
How to choose a kit
- Check the laboratory. HSE's technical guidance says legionella analysis should be done in UKAS-accredited laboratories with the current ISO method in their scope of accreditation. Choose a seller that says so clearly.
- Count your samples. One bottle tests one outlet. Most people sample at least two: the outlet nearest the tank or cylinder and the one furthest away. Multi-kit discounts add up quickly.
- Compare prices on the same VAT basis. Landlords and homeowners pay VAT. Some sellers list prices before VAT and some after.
- Look at the return. Samples must reach the laboratory quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours. A pre-paid courier or Special Delivery return is worth paying for.
- Check what the report includes. A certificate of analysis gives you a number. Some sellers add interpretation and advice on what to do next.
Do you need to test at all?
Often not. HSE says testing or sampling for legionella is not usually required for domestic hot and cold water systems, and is only needed in very specific circumstances. It also says health and safety law does not require landlords to obtain or produce a ‘legionella test certificate’.
Testing is useful where temperature control is in doubt, in buildings with people at higher risk, after a long period empty, or to confirm that cleaning has worked. See do I need a legionella test?
What the law does require is a risk assessment. Our sister site has a plain-English guide and a free risk assessment template.
Questions people ask
How much does a legionella test kit cost?
UK postal laboratory kits are listed at about £40 to £85 for one sample. Some prices include VAT and some do not. Rapid on-site tests cost about £70 to £80 per test.
How accurate are legionella test kits?
A postal kit analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory uses the same culture method as professional sampling. The result depends on taking the sample correctly and getting it to the laboratory quickly. Rapid tests are screening tests and detect a narrower range of legionella.
How long do legionella test results take?
Sellers quote between about 10 and 18 days for laboratory kits, because the culture has to grow for around ten days. Rapid tests give a result in about 35 minutes.
Can I buy a legionella test kit at Screwfix or on Amazon?
A laboratory analysis kit is normally bought direct from a water testing company, because the price includes the laboratory work and the return of the sample. If you buy from a general retailer, check whether laboratory analysis is included or whether it is a rapid screening test.
Is a legionella test the same as a risk assessment?
No. A risk assessment inspects the water system and is a legal duty for landlords and employers. A test analyses a water sample and is not usually required for domestic systems.
Sources
- HSE: Legionella and landlords' responsibilities
- HSE: HSG274 Part 2, The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems
Checked against these sources in October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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