Highly efficient in-line wet cyclone air sampler for airborne virus detection

Early detection of highly pathogenic strains is particularly important from the point of view of controlling and minimizing the spread of the virus. Wherein, the sampling of infectious virus from air is a crucial step for effective pandemic disease diagnosis. However, most of the air samplers required long sampling time and real time virus analysis is not possible. Hence, the present work we report design and development of in-line virus detection system by adopting newly designed wet cyclone air sampler. An in line airborne virus detection system composed of preseparator and wet cyclone type impactor for air sampling, fluidics system, and virus sensing platform. All virus detection processes, such as sampling of air, hydration, delivery, and immunoassay were carried out on a single system without any preor post-sample treatment. Prior to virus detection, the collection efficiency @ 1000 L/min is tested with PSL particles and is observed that the air sampler efficiency for 1 μm AD is about 50 %, 1.5 μm AD is 78.3 %. And for the large size PSL the observed collection efficiency is about 100 %. Further, it is observed that, the developed system is capable of efficient collection of airborne viral pathogens such as H1N1 and H3N2.