Measurement of Airborne Respiratory Viruses Using an Electrostatic Particle Concentrator and Paper Immunosensors in Laboratory and School Environments
JAEGIL LEE, Chanhwi Park, Wonyoung Jeon, Jaesung Jang, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)
Abstract Number: 139
Working Group: Bioaerosols
Abstract
Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses poses significant public health risks, particularly in indoor environments. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that aerosol transmission is a major route of infection. Since airborne viruses typically exist at low concentrations, effective detection necessitates air samplers with high concentration and analysis instruments with a low limit of detection (LOD). An electrostatic sampler exhibits high collection efficiency across a wide range of particle diameters and can enrich collected airborne particles via small collection area and collection liquid volume.
In this study, we evaluated the collection and detection of three types of respiratory viruses—human adenovirus (HAdV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza A H1N1 virus (IAV)—using a laboratory-developed high-flow, high-collection-efficiency electrostatic particle concentrator (HEPC) in combination with paper-based electrochemical immunosensors. The HEPC operated at 40 L/min with different sampling durations (20, 40, and 60 minutes), and the collected viruses were measured using both the lab-made paper-based electrochemical immunosensors and RT-qPCR. The sensors achieved the LOD ranging from 202 to 5211 copies/m3, depending on the viral protein target.
Based on the laboratory results, we conducted airborne virus monitoring in classrooms, cafeterias, and corridors of two elementary schools for 11 days in March and April 2025. On-site detection was performed with the immunosensors immediately after virus collection, and RT-qPCR was conducted in laboratory for validation. The results identified six virus-positive samples―three positives for HAdV, one for RSV, and two for IAV.
This monitoring platform demonstrated efficient air sampling in large indoor spaces, maintained acceptable operational noise levels (<50 dB), and enabled rapid (40-min sampling and 30-min detection) and cost-effective detection. This platform holds the potential for a rapid, field-deployable tool for airborne virus surveillance in future outbreaks and pandemic scenarios.