Efficient collection of airborne viruses using a condensation-based bioaerosol sampler at medium flow rates

Abstract

In this study, we present a flowrate-enhanced water condensation based bioaerosol sampler. Our device was evaluated by varying the sampling flowrate of a single growth tube from 3 to 6 LPM. The physical collection efficiencies were measured with 51nm diameter polystyrene beads. The biological collection efficiencies were also evaluated by using MS2 bacteriophages, and compared with the SKC BioSampler. As a result, the physical collection efficiency maintained over 90% at a flowrate of 5 LPM. Moreover, this device showed 294 times higher biological collection efficiency than the SKC BioSampler at a flowrate of 5 LPM.