title: Evaluation of vaporized hydrogen peroxide fumigation as a method for the bio-decontamination of the high efficiency particulate air filter unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performance of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) for the bio-decontamination of the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-made or commercially available bioindicators were placed at designated locations in the HEPA filter unit under VHP fumigation. The spores on coupons were then extracted by 0.5 h submergence in eluent followed by 200- time violent knocks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Due to the presence of HEPA filter in the box, spore recovery from coupons placed at the bottom of the filter downstream was significantly higher than that from coupons placed at the other locations. The gap of  decontamination efficiency between the top and the bottom of the filter downstream became narrower with the  exposure time extended. The decontamination efficiency of the bottom of the filter downstream only improved gently with the injection rate of H2O2 increased and the decontamination efficiency decreased instead when the injection rate exceeded 2.5 g/min. The commercially available bioindicators were competent to indicate the disinfection  efficiency of VHP for the HEPA filter unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This assay developed can detect all 16 β-lactams demanded by the European Union (EU). The whole procedure takes only 45 min and can detect 42 samples and the standards with duplicate analysis.
authors: National Bio-protection Engineering Center, Tianjin 300161, China.
authors: Hai Quan
authors: HQ
authors: Jia
authors: Yan Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Li
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Sun
authors: Si Qing
authors: SQ
authors: Zhao
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Yi
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: Zong Xing
authors: ZX
authors: Zhang
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Pan
authors: Jian Cheng
authors: JC
authors: Qi
mesh_terms: D061808:Air Filters; D005651:Fumigation; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Bio-decontamination; Fumigation; High efficiency particulate air filter unit; Spore killing; Vaporized hydrogen peroxide