title: Model system using coliphage phi X174 for testing virus removal by air filters.
abstract: Short-term (15-min-duration) and long-term (5- to 6-day-duration) test procedures have been developed for determining the efficiency of the removal of bacteriophage phi X174 by air-sterilizing filters. These procedures were sensitive enough to measure a 10(8)-fold reduction in the number of bacteriophage. A filter commonly used in industrial air sterilizations (Domnick-Hunter Bio-X borosilicate glass) effected a 10(8)-fold removal of viable phage in both short-term and long-term tests. A prototype low-flux, hollow-fiber membrane gave similar results; however, a prototype high-flux, hollow-fiber membrane removed only about 99.999% of the bacteriophage in short-term tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis 63121.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Arrowsmith
mesh_terms: D003090:Coliphages / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*