Evaluation of a Novel Bioaerosol Collection System against Standard Bioaerosol Samplers
AMANDA WEILER, Nora Chan, Nathalie Turgeon, Caroline Duchaine, Loïc Coudron, Ian Johnston, Timothy Foat, Defence Research and Development Canada
Abstract Number: 115
Working Group: Bioaerosols
Abstract
Early detection of biological threats is essential to strategic preparedness and response. This project aimed to assess the collection efficiency of a novel bioaerosol collection and concentrating system based on electrostatic precipitation and electrowetting on dielectric (ESP-EWOD). A bioaerosol chamber trial was conducted to compare the ESP-EWOD system against two standard bioaerosol samplers: an SKC BioSampler® and a 37 mm filter cassette containing a 0.8 µm polycarbonate filter. Three bacteria (Bacillus atrophaeus spores, Pantoea agglomerans, and Escherichia coli) were aerosolized into a chamber so that all three samplers could collect simultaneously. The samples were eluted for analysis by culture, endotoxin assay, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The comparison between samplers showed that the ESP-EWOD has similar collection and elution efficiencies to the SKC BioSampler® and filter cassette for P. agglomerans and E. coli, but elution efficiency was lower when collecting B. atrophaeus spores. The concentrations of ESP-EWOD samples were much higher compared to samples collected with the SKC BioSampler® (1000x higher for P. agglomerans and E. coli and 33x higher for B. atrophaeus). Continued work with the ESP-EWOD will enhance the system’s capabilities and provide a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency, reliability, and usability of this novel bioaerosol collection system in diverse environments. This first of a series of planned trials showed that the ESP-EWOD is a promising technology for integration into a low burden bioaerosol detection system. Additional work will be done to optimize the collection and elution processes, test the system in other aerosol chambers and complex field environments, and integrate the system onto uncrewed vehicles for remote collection.