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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Monitoring Influenza Virus Survival Outside the Host Using Real-Time Cell Analysis
Published on: February 20, 2021
Persistence of influenza on surfaces
1Biosafety, Air and Water Microbiology Group, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.
Background:
Close contact transmission (either direct or large droplet/droplet nuclei) is considered the main driver of influenza outbreaks but there is limited information regarding the role of fomites in transmission.
Aim:
To investigate the surface stability of influenza strains and thereby the role of fomites in transmission.
Methods:
The viability and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qt-RT-PCR) signal of five influenza strains (A/PR/8/34/H1N1, A/Cal/7/09/H1N1, A/Cal/4/09/H1N1, A/Sol/54/06/H1N1, and A/Bris/59/07/H1N1) seeded on to three surfaces (cotton, microfibre, and stainless steel) were assessed over time. Coupons of material were seeded with 10μL of a 106-108pfu/mL suspension of cell culture-derived virus stock supplemented with 0.3% bovine serum albumin. Coupons were assayed by plaque assay and qt-RT-PCR at 1, 24h, and weekly for seven weeks using a vortex-mixing elution method.
Findings:
Viable virus was detected from coupons for up to two weeks (stainless steel) and one week (cotton and microfibre), whereas detection of viruses by PCR was made for the entire seven-week study period. No strain differences were found. Ninety-nine percent reduction values (as a function of the seeding stock) were determined to be 17.7h for cotton (R2=0.86), 34.3h for microfibre (R2=0.80), and 174.9h for stainless steel (R2=0.98).
Conclusion:
Viable influenza was recovered from surfaces for up to two weeks. By contrast, influenza could be detected by PCR for more than seven weeks. These results have important implications for determining infection control protocols, cleaning regimes and sampling methods in healthcare settings.
Insights
Influenza virus remained viable on surfaces for up to two weeks, with detection by PCR extending beyond seven weeks. This highlights the significant role of fomites in influenza transmission and infection control.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Surface Science
Background:
- Influenza outbreaks are primarily driven by close contact transmission.
- The role of fomites (contaminated surfaces) in influenza transmission is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the stability of different influenza strains on various surfaces.
- To determine the potential for fomite-mediated transmission of influenza.
Main Methods:
- Five influenza strains were tested on cotton, microfibre, and stainless steel surfaces.
- Virus viability was assessed using plaque assays and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qt-RT-PCR).
- Surface stability was evaluated over a seven-week period.
Main Results:
- Viable influenza virus was detected on surfaces for up to two weeks.
- Influenza RNA was detectable by qt-RT-PCR for the entire seven-week study.
- Ninety-nine percent reduction times varied by surface: 17.7h (cotton), 34.3h (microfibre), and 174.9h (stainless steel).
Conclusions:
- Influenza virus can remain viable on fomites for extended periods, up to two weeks.
- Detection of viral RNA by PCR significantly exceeds the period of viable virus presence.
- Findings have implications for infection control, cleaning protocols, and sampling strategies in healthcare settings.
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