title: Evaluation of the swab sampling method to recover viruses from fomites.
abstract: The monitoring of virus contamination on fomites, especially at hospitals has been used for a more effective evaluation of the microbiological quality of surfaces. Swab sampling is the method used currently, although the use of an internal control process (ICP) has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study is to determine the recovery rate of murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) and bacteriophage PP7 on different surfaces in order to assess their potential use as an ICP. For this purpose both viruses were spiked experimentally both on porous and non-porous formic as well as on rubberized surfaces. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed a variable efficiency with a percentage recovery ranging from 0.6 to 77% according to viruses and surfaces. A global analysis suggested that MNV-1 could be used as a potential ICP for the swab sampling method.
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: acganime@ioc.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ganime
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: J P G
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Parasitology Department, Biomedical Institute, Laboratory of Virology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Abreu Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Melgaço
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Carvalho-Costa
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Miagostovich
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D050456:Fomites / Q000821:virology*; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012015:Reference Standards; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Bacteriophage PP7; Fomites; Internal control process; MNV-1; Swab