title: Hepatitis C virus maintains infectivity for weeks after drying on inanimate surfaces at room temperature: implications for risks of transmission.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers may come into contact with fomites that contain infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) during preparation of plasma or following placement or removal of venous lines. Similarly, injection drugs users may come into contact with fomites. Hypothesizing that prolonged viability of HCV in fomites may contribute significantly to incidence, we determined the longevity of virus infectivity and the effectiveness of antiseptics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the volume of drops misplaced during transfer of serum or plasma. Aliquots equivalent to the maximum drop volume of plasma spiked with the 2a HCV reporter virus were loaded into 24-well plates. Plates were stored uncovered at 3 temperatures: 4°C, 22°C, and 37°C for up to 6 weeks before viral infectivity was determined in a microculture assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean volume of an accidental drop was 29 µL (min-max of 20-33 µL). At storage temperatures 4°C and 22°C, we recovered viable HCV from the low-titer spots for up to 6 weeks of storage. The rank order of HCV virucidal activity of commonly used antiseptics was bleach (1:10) > cavicide (1:10) > ethanol (70%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis of potential transmission from fomites was supported by the experimental results. The anti-HCV activity of commercial antiseptics varied.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paintsil
authors.forename: Mawuena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binka
authors.forename: Amisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Brett D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lindenbach
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heimer
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D050456:Fomites / Q000821:virology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D012306:Risk; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: fomites; hepatitis C virus; infectivity; nosocomial; transmission; virucidal agents