<![CDATA[Legionellosis is an infection caused by Legionella pneumophila, commonly transmitted through artificial water systems such as cooling towers. Early detection of this pathogen is crucial, particularly in high-risk facilities. This study aimed to assess the robustness of a rapid detection method based on the Most Probable Number (MPN) principle, focusing on the effectiveness of pretreatment in reducing interference from non-target microorganisms. A total of 30 positive trays from Legiolert™ tests were subcultured on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) to identify any surviving non-target microbes. Robustness was defined by the proportion of trays without non-target microbial growth. Results showed a robustness rate of 93.33%, with full robustness (100%) observed in low and moderate microbial load groups, and 75% in the high-load group. A non-parametric binomial test using SPSS was performed to evaluate the statistical significance of the deviation from the robustness cut-off. The resulting p-value was 0.446 (p > 0.05), indicating no statistically significant difference. These findings demonstrate that the Legiolert™ method maintains reliable performance even in complex sample matrices, supporting its use in routine water quality monitoring in accordance with Indonesian Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2023.]]>
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