The researchers used active air samplers to detect airborne SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments; however, these displays are often large, expensive, non-portable, and require electricity.
Krystal Pollitt and colleagues wanted to develop a small, light, inexpensive, and wearable device that doesn’t require a power source to better understand an individual’s exposure to the virus.
Researchers have developed a wearable passive air sampler, the Fresh Air Clip, that continuously absorbs virus-laden aerosols on polydimethylsiloxane surface (PDMS).
The team tested the air sampler in a rotating barrel, in which they created aerosols containing the replacement virus, a phage with similar properties to SARS-CoV-2.
They detected a virus on the PDMS sampler using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), showing that the device can be used to reliably estimate virus concentrations in atmosphere.
The researchers then distributed Fresh Air Clips to 62 volunteers who wore the monitors for five days. PCR analysis of the clips detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 5 of the clips: 4 worn by the restaurant server and one worn by the homeless shelter staff.
Scientists detected the highest amount of virus of the two badges from the restaurant’s servers.
Although the Fresh Air Clip has not yet been commercialized, these results suggest it could serve as a semi-quantitative screening tool for assessing individual exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and help identify high-risk areas for indoor exposure.
Source: Medindia
