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Multilaboratory evaluation of methods for detecting enteric viruses in soils
C J Hurst1, S A Schaub, M D Sobsey
1United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Two soil virus recovery methods, Berg and Goyal, were compared. Neither method showed statistically significant differences in virus recovery across four soil types, indicating comparable performance for environmental virology.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Virology
- Soil Microbiology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate recovery and detection of soil-borne viruses are crucial for environmental monitoring and public health.
- Standardized methods are needed for reliable soil virus analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comparatively evaluate two candidate methods (Berg and Goyal) for soil virus recovery and detection.
- To assess the performance of these methods across diverse soil types.
Main Methods:
- Round robin testing involving nine laboratories.
- Utilized beef extract for virus desorption from four soil types: fine sand, organic muck, sandy loam, and clay loam.
- Goyal method included low-pH organic flocculation for sample concentration.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference (P <= 0.05) in virus assay titers between Berg and Goyal methods for any soil type.
- Slightly higher virus recovery values observed with the Berg method, but not statistically significant.
- A significant laboratory effect was noted for sandy loam and clay loam soils when comparing independent versus reference laboratory assays.
Conclusions:
- Both Berg and Goyal methods demonstrate comparable efficacy for soil virus recovery and detection.
- Laboratory-specific variations in assay performance can influence results, particularly in certain soil types.
- Further standardization may be needed to minimize inter-laboratory variability in soil virological studies.