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Effect of air flow rate over time on SARS-CoV-2 viability during representative sampling using MD8 airport air
Ian Nicholls1, Okechukwu Onianwa1, Sean Collins1
1Biosafety Air and Water Microbiology Group, Diagnostics and Pathogen Characterisation, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.
Background:
Studies involving air sampling for SARS-CoV-2 commonly return either negative data or non-viable virus.
Aim:
This study assessed the desiccative impact of time parameters during air sampling.
Methods:
The study aerosolised SARS-CoV-2 on to gelatine Sartorius MD8 AirPort gelatin filters which were then attached to a Sartorius MD8 AirPort and run at 50 L/min up to 40 min. These filters were then analysed by viral plaque assay and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
Findings:
There was no significant difference in recovery of infectious virus or genomic copy numbers with increasing air sampled.
Conclusion:
Sampling for ≤40 min with a Sartorius MD8 AirPort does not reduce the viability of SARS-CoV-2.
