BioSampler 庐
Bioaerosols are airborne particles of biological origin (e.g., bacteria, fungi, pollen, viruses) and their by-products such
as endotoxins or mycotoxins and other fragments. While there is no standardized method for bioaerosol collection at
this time, many organizations, including SKC, are researching improved measurement techniques. The BioSampler is a
result of SKC鈥檚 work with leading scientists at the University of Cincinnati.
Sampling for Bioaerosols
Many of the same techniques that are used for non-biological
aerosols can be used for bioaerosols. However, to properly
evaluate bioaerosol samples, collection procedures must ensure
the survival or biological activity of bioaerosol particles during
and after collection.1 The BioSampler is highly effective at
collecting viable samples.
The BioSampler
The patented BioSampler bioaerosol glass collection device鈥?
externally resembles an all-glass impinger such as the AGI-30*.
Inside, it contains specific design features that overcome some of
the sampling problems evidenced while using impingers for
bioaerosol collection. The BioSampler鈥檚 inlet design limits the
collection of airborne particles to those that would pass through the
human nose. The sampler is normally used with a liquid that swirls
upward on the sampler鈥檚 inner wall and removes collected par-
ticles鈥?. This gentle swirling motion generates very few bubbles
minimizing re-aerosolization of collected particles. The
BioSampler鈥檚 design also reduces particle bounce off the inner wall
helping to ensure bioaerosol viability.
The BioSampler can be used with collection liquids that have a
viscosity much higher than water such as ViaTrap庐, a special
mineral oil for sampling bioaerosols. When used with ViaTrap, the
BioSampler鈥檚 collection efficiency stays constant over an 8-hour
sampling period.
Sampling with the
BioSampler
The BioSampler is designed to operate with a sonic flow pump,
such as the SKC Vac-U-Go Sampler. While the Vac-U-Go Sampler
is typically used with fixed-diameter brass orifices to achieve sonic
flow, no orifice is needed when it is used with the BioSampler. The
BioSampler鈥檚 three tangential nozzles act as critical or sonic
orifices, each permitting 4.2 L/min of ambient air to pass through.
Once sonic flow is established, a flow rate of approximately
12.5 L/min is achieved.
鈥? Patent No. 5,902,385 (device method)
鈥? Patent No. 5,904,752
Rev 0205
* All-Glass Impinger (AGI-30) 鈥? 30 refers to the distance in millimeters Pub. 1411
between the inlet stem or jet and the base of the impinger.
SKC BioSampler Advantages of the BioSampler
There are many advantages to using the unique BioSampler in place of a
鈥? Allows use of non-evaporating
standard impinger.
collection liquids
鈥? Significantly reduces particle
Greater Sampling Efficiency Over Longer Sampling Times
bounce and re-aerosolization
The BioSampler provides greater efficiency over longer sampling times
鈥? Preserves microorganism integrity because it can be used with non-evaporating liquids that have viscosities
and viability higher than water such as ViaTrap, a mineral oil for sampling bioaerosols.
When used with ViaTrap, the BioSampler鈥檚 collection efficiency stays constant
鈥? Reusable 鈥? can be autoclaved
over an 8-hour sampling period. Typical sampling times with standard impingers
鈥? Provides greater sampling effi- and impinger liquids are only 1 to 1.5 hours. The BioSampler鈥檚 longer sampling
ciency over longer sampling times also provide increased sample volumes for detecting organisms at lower
times concentration levels.
鈥? Collected bioaerosols
Less Particle Bounce
can be analyzed by a
The BioSampler鈥檚 nozzles eject particles at an angle to the sampler鈥檚 inner wall
variety of methods
significantly reducing particle bounce and preserving aggregates of organisms. In
standard impingers, microorganisms are typically damaged from collision with the
impinger base-plate.
Decreased Particle Re-aerosolization
The BioSampler鈥檚 nozzles also create a swirling airflow that maintains microorganism viability by
gently moving particles to the collection surface without re-aerosolization. The collection liquid in
standard impingers tends to bubble violently, causing collected particles to become re-aerosolized.
Inlet
Applications
Use the BioSampler with a sonic flow sample pump for area
sampling to locate sources of biological contamination, identify
and measure levels of microorganisms, evaluate the effectiveness
of control measures, or monitor bioaerosol releases for many
applications including:
Outlet
鈥? Infection control in hospitals and
veterinary clinics
鈥? Quantification of microorganisms in
agricultural dust
鈥? Biological research
Tangential nozzles 鈥? Infectious disease investigations
(sonic orifices) in public buildings
Collection vessel 鈥? Workplace exposures in food
handling and processing
plants, pulp and paper mills,
and wastewater treatment
plants
鈥? Microbiological investiga-
Three-piece SKC BioSampler
tions in public buildings,
9 x 2 in (22.9 x 5.1 cm)
workplaces, and homes
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Performance Criteria Analysis Methods
Although the topic of much discussion, no performance criteria for bioaerosol Growth Culture Analysis: quantifying &
sampling have been adopted at this time (i.e., experimentally determined values characterizing airborne culturable bacteria and
to assess the suitability of a collection method for a specific application).4 fungi.
Microscopic Analysis: enumeration &
Two performance characteristics are critical when choosing a bioaerosol sampler: limited identification of total airborne
bacteria and fungi.
鈥? Physical Collection Efficiency including the sampler鈥檚 ability to aspirate
Biochemical Assay: quantification of
airborne microorganisms into its inlet and to remove particles from the
biological compounds based on
airstream and transfer them to the collection medium.
reaction to a chemical.
Immunoassay: quantification of
鈥? Biological Collection Efficiency referring to the sampler鈥檚 ability to maintain airborne allergens (relies on
viability or biological activity during sampling. antibodies binding to a specific
target antigen.
Figure 1.
Polymerase Chain Reaction
The collection efficiency
(PCR): identification of
BioSampler AGI-30 of the BioSampler is close
bioaerosols by
to 100% over a wide range
screening for a
100 of particle sizes when
specific genus
Collection Efficiency, %
operated at an airflow rate
or species.
of 12.5 L/min with water or a
liquid of similar viscosity as the
collection fluid. For particles less
80
than 1.0 碌m in diameter, the collection efficiency
decreases, to approximately 90% at 0.5 碌m (see Figure 1
at left).
60
0.1 10
1
Particle Aerodynamic Diameter, 碌m
Test particle: PSL (Polystyrene Latex Beads)
Collection fluid: 20 ml deionized water
Sampling flow rate: 12.5 L/min
Advanced Biological
Air Sampling System
This turnkey sampling system makes bioaerosol sampling easy. The
complete system features one BioSampler for the efficient collection
of airborne microorganisms, two additional 20 ml collection vessels
(bottoms) with caps for sending samples to a laboratory, a case with
mounting rod for securing the BioSampler during sampling, ViaTrap
(mineral oil for bioaerosol sampling), and a Vac-U-Go sample pump
(vacuum-type, sonic flow) mounted in a protective housing.
References
1. Nevalainen, A., Willeke, K., Liebhaber, F., Pastuszka, J., Burge, H., and Henningson, E., Bioaerosol Sampling: Aerosol Measurement Principles, Techniques, and Applications, Van Nostrand Reinhold,
New York, 1993, pp. 471-492.
2. Lin, X., Willeke, K., Ulevicius, V., Grinshpun, S.A., 鈥淓ffect of Sampling Time on the Collection of All-Glass Impingers,鈥? Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. Journal, v. 58, 1997, pp. 480-488.
3. Macher, J.M., Chatigny, M.A., and Burge, H.A., 鈥淪ampling Airborne Microorganisms and Aeroallergens,鈥? Air Sampling Instruments for Evaluation of Atmospheric Contaminants, 8th ed., ACGIH,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1995, pp. 589-617.
4. Macher, J.M., 鈥淓valuation of Bioaerosol Sampler Performance,鈥? Applied Occupational Environmental Hygiene, v. 12, 1997, pp. 732-738.
5. Buttner, M.P., Willeke, K., Grinshpun, S.A., 鈥淪ampling and Analysis of Airborne Microorganisms,鈥? Manual of Environmental Microbiology, ASM Press, Washington, DC, 1997, pp. 629-640.
For a list of microbiological analysis labs, visit www.skcinc.com.
鈥?3鈥?
SKC BioSampler
Ordering Information
Description Cat. No.
Complete BioSampler System, includes 1 BioSampler, two 20 ml collection
vessels (bottoms) with caps, 1 BioSampler case with mounting rod,
1 ViaTrap (125 ml), 1 Vac-U-Go Sampler (sonic flow) mounted in protective
housing, and 1 rotameter
115 V 225-9594
230 V 225-9594B
BioSampler Mini Kit, includes 1 BioSampler, two 20 ml collection vessels
(bottoms) with caps, 1 BioSampler case with mounting rod, and
1 ViaTrap (125 ml) 225-9597
BioSampler, 3-piece glass, includes inlet section, outlet section, and
collection vessel 20 ml 225-9595
5 ml 225-9593
BioSampler Collection Vessel (bottom) and ground joint cap for
transporting samples
20 ml 225-9596
5 ml 225-9596A
ViaTrap, collection media (special mineral oil for bioaerosol sampling)
125 ml 225-9598A
500 ml 225-9598
1 liter 225-9599
BioSampler Case with mounting rod (not pump case), includes foam insert
The case serves as a base and the rod secures BioSampler during sampling. 225-9606
Vac-U-Go Sampler (Sonic Flow) for BioSampler, mounted in protective housing
with handle (AC operation only)
A critical orifice is not required when using the Vac-U-Go Sampler with the
BioSampler. Contact your SKC representative for more details. 115 V 228-9605
230 V 228-9605B
For more information on bioaerosol sampling, order:
鈥? The Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants in Environmental
Samples, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), 703-849-8888 or www.aiha.org.
鈥? BioAerosols: Assessment and Control, American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH), 513-742-6163 or www.acgih.org.
SKC Inc.
World leader in sampling technologies
SKC Inc. 鈥? World Headquarters
863 Valley View Road
Eighty Four, PA 15330
SKC Ltd. (European Union)
SKC South 724-941-9701
Unit 11, Sunrise Park,
PO Box 2016 www.skcinc.com
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Appomattox, VA 24522-2016
Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8ST
434-352-7149
United Kingdom
(01258) 480188
SKC West
PO Box 4133
International Sales
Fullerton, CA 92834-4133
Contact SKC International Customer
714-992-2780
Service in Eighty Four, PA, USA
at 724-941-9701 for the name of
local distributors or for assistance
SKC Gulf Coast
with direct shipments.
9827 Whithorn Drive
Houston, TX 77095-5027
281-859-8050
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