Wearable Air Sampler For Measuring Exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Author: ChemistryViews
Published On: January 24, 2022
Copyright: Wiley-VCH GmbH

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via aerosols and respiratory droplets. Assessing the exposure of a person to virus-laden aerosols and droplets could help to gauge the effectiveness of different infection control measures. However, many devices that actively collect air samples are expensive and large. Thus, it can be challenging to use such methods in wearable devices for evaluating the exposure of a specific person in a defined setting.

Krystal J. Godri Pollitt, Yale University and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA, and colleagues have developed a wearable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based passive air sampler that can be used to assess personal exposure to aerosols and droplets carrying SARS-CoV-2. The team prepared a small PDMS pad, which was embedded in a 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) container with a perforated cover and mounted in a wearable clip. This passive air sampler clip was worn for five days (clipped to shirt collars) by individuals in communities with high COVID-19 transmission rates or personnel in high-risk indoor environments, such as restaurants or healthcare facilities.

Viral RNA was then extracted from the samples and subjected to PCR analyses. The researchers detected SARS-CoV-2 on 8 % of the worn samplers, predominantly by participants in indoor restaurant settings (where patrons were not wearing masks). Using the sampler, exposure events even at subinfectious doses could be detected. According to the team, PDMS-based passive samplers could be a useful exposure assessment tool for airborne viral exposure in real-world settings and help to provide guidance on suitable infection-control protocols.