Biomonitoring Tools for SARS-CoV-2 and Other Disease Threats in Air, Surfaces, and Liquids in Contained Living Spaces

Cruise Ships, Prisons, Nursing Centers, and Other

Introduction

It is understood that SARS-CoV-2 (as well as influenza and SARS-CoV-1) transmission is primarily through droplet and contaminated surface contact. However, there is also significant direct and indirect evidence that aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens is likely within contained spaces.1-9

In the current reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships, prisons, nursing centers, and other close-quarter living facilities may be operating blindly when it comes to surface, fomite, and aerosol contamination.

Traditional monitoring methods of aerosol and surface monitoring for bacteria and viruses are negatively affected by limited collection volumes, poor sample recovery, and complex and difficult to perform recovery processes. InnovaPrep offers novel systems that provide simple and straightforward methods for the collection and detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens at previously undetectable levels.

Proactive monitoring provides an increased understanding of:

  1. Current state of contamination in the facility
  2. Effectiveness, limits or gaps of environmental controls
  3. Effectiveness, limits or gaps of cleaning and disinfection procedures
  4. Infection risk associated with staffing locations, functions, and available PPE

Enabling the introduction of improved control measures, cleaning and disinfection procedures, and corrective actions and enables PPE use optimization during the current shortage.

Biomonitoring Tools for SARS=CoV-2 in Air, Surfaces, and Liquids

Rapid, easy, small, battery operable and portable devices

bobcat-with-gloved-hand-and-filter

 

Air Sampling – The ADC-200 Bobcat™ is a small lightweight and portable dry filter air sampler with a built-in tripod that actively collects viruses, bacteria and fungal spores from 100 LPM to 200 LPM. Sample recovery from the filter takes just seconds and results in a concentrated liquid sample of 6 mL that is ready for analysis using PCR or other molecular methods.

Longitudinal Metagenomic Analysis of Hospital Air Identifies Clinically Relevant Microbes An article published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS ONE 2016). by Paula King, et al.

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Liquid Concentration for exponentially increasing the limit of detection – the Concentrating Pipette™ will concentrate viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores into a final concentrate of ~200 µL with a press of a button in minutes. The Concentrating Pipette pairs perfectly with PCR and other molecular methods.

Detection of an Avian Lineage Influenza A(H7N2) Virus in Air and Surface Samples at a New York City Feline Quarantine Facility Francoise M. Blachere, CDC NIOSH, et al.

 

A surface sampling method published by NASA JPL showed the effectiveness of how simple felt squares or dry Swiffer-type wipes can be wetted and used to collect samples from large area surfaces the resulting sample can be concentrated on the Concentrating Pipette into a PCR-ready sample of about 200 µL without incubation.

A Meta Mini Study: Improved Pathogen Detection of Air, Surface and Liquid Samples Through Rapid Concentration a poster presentation given by Dave Alburty, InnovaPrep CEO, at the American Society of Microbiology Biothreats meeting in January 2019. The poster outlines three studies where pathogen detection of air, surface and liquid samples were improved by using the Concentrating Pipette for rapid concentration. The studies were performed by independent labs including CDC NIOSH, NASA JPL, and the USDA.

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Detection – InnovaPrep elution fluids are compatible with most molecular assays. For those facilities without these capabilities, or those requiring field operation, InnovaPrep’s elution fluids are compatible with Biomeme’s Franklin mobile thermocycler for qPCR and Biomeme’s SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips assays. Two RNA targets for the novel coronavirus are multiplexed together with Biomeme's process control assay for RNA extraction and RT-PCR (MS2).

 

InnovaPrep-tools-diagram

About InnovaPrep

InnovaPrep® is a developer of preanalytical tools for modern microbiology. InnovaPrep products provide the critical macro-to-micro interface between real-world samples and the input volumes of modern molecular methods for analysis. These tools increase sensitivity and enable a faster, easier, and more efficient means of delivering the most highly concentrated sample possible for subsequent analysis.

InnovaPrep’s 35 pending and awarded patents apply to highly efficient collection and concentration of biological particles from air, surfaces, and liquids.   InnovaPrep’s Wet Foam Elution™ process enables instant recovery of particles from filters, membranes, surfaces, and objects. The primary utility for these technologies is to greatly improve the way biological samples, especially dilute samples, are collected and prepared for analysis, allowing the most advanced biological detection systems to contribute their full potential.

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1Booth, T. F., et al. (2005). Detection of Airborne Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus and Environmental Contamination in SARS Outbreak Units. The Journal of Infectious Diseases191(9), 1472–1477. doi: 10.1086/429634

2Cai, J., Sun, W., Huang, J., Gamber, M., Wu, J., & He, G. (2020). Indirect Virus Transmission in Cluster of COVID-19 Cases, Wenzhou, China, 2020. Emerging Infectious Diseases26(6). doi: 10.3201/eid2606.200412

3Doremalen, N. V., et al. (2020). Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217

4Hugonnet, S., & Pittet, D. (2004). Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Critical Care. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine169(11), 1177–1178. doi: 10.1164/rccm.2403004

5Ong, S. W. X., et al. (2020). Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient. Jama. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.3227

6Tellier, R., Li, Y., Cowling, B. J., & Tang, J. W. (2019). Recognition of aerosol transmission of infectious agents: a commentary. BMC Infectious Diseases19(1). doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-3707-y

7Yu, I. T., et al. (2004). Evidence of Airborne Transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus. New England Journal of Medicine350(17), 1731–1739. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa032867

8Giuseppina La Rosa, et al. Viral infections acquired indoors through airborne, droplet or contact transmission. Ann Ist Super Sanità 2013 | Vol. 49, No. 2:124-132

9Santarpia, J. L., et al. (2020). Transmission Potential of SARS-CoV-2 in Viral Shedding Observed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.23.20039446

Questions?