Aerosol containment testing

Dear All

We sort samples from various human tissues which may contain pathogens.
We therefore need to test our aerosol containment device for efficiency
of protecting the operator etc. We have used the phage/E. coli system
but have had various difficulties with this. We therefore propose using
the Glogerm bead method, however we have a number of issues regarding
this:

1.  Is it feasible to compare an aerosol with a glo-germ particle in it
against an aerosol with an infectious agent in it - given that a
Glo-germ particle is 5um and TB is 1-4um and HIV 0.1um. That is, will a
Glo-germ aerosol accurately reflect the behaviour of an infectious
aerosol and if not should this test be considered reliable?

2. For those conducting the Glo-germ test, is the Aerotech collection
device (or something similar) used? If so what is it's efficiency?

3. We are hoping to get a general consensus on testing the efficiency
of a containment unit for Flow sorters. Do people use The Glo-germ test,
the phage test or another method?

In responding to these questions one must consider that our unit is
sorting samples from a general population who are not known to be
infectious  but may be. Also UK health and safety legislation governs
that personal protection equipment should be a last resort and thus
should not be considered at this stage.

Many thanks for your opinions, comments etc

Best wishes

Ian


Ian Titley PhD
Section of Haemato-oncology
Institute of Cancer Research
237 Fulham Road
London UK SW3 6JB

Tel +44 (0)20 7352 8133
Fax +44 (0)20 7352 3299