title: A sensitive method for evaluating condoms as virus barriers.
abstract: A standard test is needed to evaluate condoms as barriers against sexually transmitted diseases, particularly those caused by viruses. The proposed method presented here consists of a previously published simple method using physiologic-based conditions plus improvements to increase test sensitivity and decrease confounding factors such as contamination. Limitations of the method were determined by measuring virus penetration through small, well-defined holes. The method can detect penetration of 2 nL (2 x 10(-6) mL) of challenge virus suspension as well as a hole of 2 microns diameter in a latex condom. The data also indicated that virus penetration of latex condoms occurred quickly, and the hole was then apparently closed or blocked.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Science and Technology, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Rockville, MD 20857, USA.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lytle
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fleharty
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bidinger
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Cyr
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Routson
mesh_terms: D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017280:Condoms / Q000592:standards*; D007700:Kinetics; D007840:Latex; D016062:Porosity; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014780:Viruses / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D007840:Latex