SARS-CoV-2 Detection in air samples from inside heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems- COVID surveillance in student dorms - 24/02/22
, Ming Fan, PhD c, Kathryn Outlaw, BS d, Sydney Williams, BS, CHES d, Rachel L Roper, PhD c
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Graphical Abstract |
Abstract |
Background |
The COVID-19 pandemic affected universities and institutions and caused campus shutdowns with a transition to online teaching models. To detect infections that might spread on campus, we pursued research towards detecting SARS-CoV-2 in air samples inside student dorms.
Methods |
We sampled air in 2 large dormitories for 3.5 months and a separate isolation suite containing a student who had tested positive for COVID-19. We developed novel techniques employing 4 methods to collect air samples: Filter Cassettes, Button Sampler, BioSampler, and AerosolSense sampler combined with direct qRT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 analysis.
Results |
For the 2 large dorms with the normal student population, we detected SARS-CoV-2 in 11 samples. When compared with student nasal swab qRT-PCR testing, we detected SARS-CoV-2 in air samples when a PCR positive COVID-19 student was living on the same floor of the sampling location with a detection rate of 75%. For the isolation dorm, we had a 100% SARS-CoV-2 detection rate with AerosolSense sampler.
Conclusions |
Our data suggest air sampling may be an important SARS-CoV-2 surveillance technique, especially for buildings with congregant living settings (dorms, correctional facilities, barracks). Future building designs and public health policies should consider implementation of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning surveillance.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : Bioaerosol, Virus detection, AerosolSense sampler, SKC samplers, qRT-PCR analysis, Coronavirus
Plan
| Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. |
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| Ethics approval: This research did not meet federal definition of Human Subjects research because the research team had no intervention or interaction with human subjects and had no identifiable private information on the specimens, which were collected by housing staff acting as an honest broker. |
Vol 50 - N° 3
P. 330-335 - mars 2022 Retour au numéro
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