AQMS – IAQ Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Draft Proposal

Title: Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2

Materials/Apparatus: Applicable materials/apparatus are as follows:

Sampling

- SKC Personal Sampling Pumps with low flow adaptor & tubing
- 37 mm cassettes with 0.2/0.3 µm PTFE membranes (3-piece cassette)
- BIOS flowrate verification device

PPE (during sampling)

- Latex gloves
- N95 face masks
- Safety goggles
- Disposable polypropylene lab coats

Shipping

- Cold-packs
- Storage cooler
- Alcohol (70%)
- Chain of Custody
- Dickson Thermo-hygrometer with probe

Sample Retention for Maintaining Viability

- Refrigerator access

Methodology (i) – Personal/Stationary Sampling

- Number of samples and appropriate individuals (where necessary) are determined in

conjunction with the Client, by CARIRI representative. *Note: It is proposed that
1200 L of air will be collected, thus the number of samples will be determined based
on theorized air movement/pressurization in building, size of building, ability to
collect representative samples, and availability of client funds.
- SKC Sampling pump(s) is/are calibrated in laboratory by trained personnel,
accounting for the drag of the PTFE membrane, utilizing BIOS flow verification
device. Flow rate should be set to 5 liters/minute.
**Note: Personal sampling may be conducted, however, the sampling train may be
set to take a stationary sample.
**Note 2: All appropriate PPE should be worn before sampling.
- The SKC Sampling pump(s) is/are initialized, to sample for 4 hours, thus allowing for
1200 liters of air to impact upon the PTFE filter.
- Sample cassette(s)is/are secured, sanitized, and placed on ice in a cooler. The SKC
pump(s) undergoes a post-calibration event, to verify its flow rate, thus confirming
an appropriate sample was collected.
**Note: PPE should be disposed of/sanitized, along with the equipment after
sampling, with 70% alcohol.

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AQMS – IAQ Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Draft Proposal

- Samples are shipped via FedEX to Eurofins lab for sample analysis, on ice (with a
temperature range maintained between 0 – 6 oC, confirmed with a Dickson
Thermohygrometer), along with a field/media blank as soon as possible, to maintain
potential organism virility and quality control.

Methodology (ii) – Personal/Stationary Sampling via Virtual Inspection

- Number of samples and appropriate individuals (where necessary) are determined in

conjunction with the Client, by CARIRI representative via an appropriate virtual
median.
- SKC Sampling pump(s) is/are calibrated in laboratory by trained personnel,
accounting for the drag of the PTFE membrane, utilizing BIOS flow verification
device. Flow rate should be set to 5 liters/minute.
**Note: Personal sampling may be conducted, however, the sampling train may be
set to take a stationary sample.
**Note 2: All appropriate PPE should be worn before sampling.
- SKC Sampling pump(s) is/are sent to the client, along with cassettes (inclusive of
field blank), cooler, ice pack. Pump(s) will be set to take a timed sample of four
hours, allowing for easy operation by client representative.
- Guided by CARIRI representative, the SKC Sampling pump(s) is/are set-up
appropriately, and initialized, to sample for 4 hours, thus allowing for 1200 liters of
air to impact upon the PTFE filter.
- Sample cassette(s) is/are secured, sanitized, and placed on ice in a cooler by Client
representative.
- **Note: Equipment should be sanitized after sampling, with 70% alcohol.
- Flow rates, sample times, IDs and any other pertinent information is recorded on the
chain of custody.
- Samples and equipment are returned to CARIRI. At this time, a post-calibration
verification is performed on the pump(s) to confirm the validity of taken samples.
Once valid, they are shipped via FedEX to Eurofins lab for sample analysis, on ice
(with a temperature range maintained between 0 – 6 oC, confirmed with a Dickson
Thermohygrometer), along with a field/media blank as soon as possible, to maintain
potential organism virility and quality control.

Limitations/Concerns

- Verifications/controls must be effective to prevent potential virus transmission.

- Any sample storage in CARIRI refrigeration must not be tampered with, to prevent
accidental/intentional transmission.
- Samples must be shipped between 0 to 6 oC.
- Samples are most viable within the first 72 hours from collection.
- Forex must be available, to obtain Eurofins lab results.
- Sensitivity of Eurofins SARS-CoV-2 test, would generally be set typically at below 500
GU per filter (at 1000 liters of air).
- Trusting Clients with equipment (potential for damage)
- Samples are reported as GU per sample, and per unit air volume. Interpretation is
tricky, because the infectious dose of virus is unknown at this time, though according
to the lab, is expected to be between 10 and 1000 infectious particles).

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AQMS – IAQ Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Draft Proposal

- qPCR analysis conducted by the lab does not differentiate between infectious and
non-infectious virus, according to Eurofins. Analysis is quantitative in nature.

Potential Market

Any indoor environment where SARS-CoV-2 is expected, inclusive of (but not limited to)
schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, etc. The application of
virtual inspections may allow for regional marketing, provided that the samples are returned
to CARIRI within an appropriate timeframe.

Safety

- In order to limit exposure to employees, we may offer the virtual aspect of the
methodology to locations where positive cases exist.
- Use of PPE which limits the exposure pathways of the virus to employees conducting
sampling should be used. A controlled system should be developed to minimize
contact with other employees; the elements of which may include the discarding of
disposable coveralls before entering offices/laboratories, sanitization of areas
samplers were in contact with, sanitization of sample media/apparatus/reusable PPE,
shower provisions for samplers, etc.
- CARIRI employees may be vaccinated, when possible.

Logistics

According to Eurofins;

- Standard TAT is 2 business days from day of receipt

- If samples are taken on a Friday, samples are received on a Saturday, and will either
process on Monday, or the same Saturday, but reporting will be at 2 business days.
- It can be an issue if samples do not reach the laboratory by overnight shipping, but
their analysis system is qualified for 72 hours. However, that does not mean that
they can’t run samples past that holding time; rather, data qualifiers will be added to
the report since it falls outside of the qualified system. Generally, SARS-CoV-2 can be
detected for quite some time after deposition on a surface. (Non-infectious particles
have been detected by PCR for weeks, however indeed; concentrations would
diminish over time, as well as infectivity).

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AQMS – IAQ Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Draft Proposal

Logistics

According to EMSL;

- TAT based on scaling costs

- Samples are not processed on a weekend. Thus, samples can be taken as late as
Wednesday, and ideally shipped that day. This is to ensure that analysis happens by
Friday. Samples in holding locally can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
- Samples must be sanitized and double-bagged. No ice required.
- EMSL has their own dedicated Covid-19 chain of custody form that must be
submitted along with samples.
- Any samples arriving damaged, handled improperly, etc will be discarded.
- Report shows either “Detected” or “Not Detected”

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AQMS – IAQ Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Draft Proposal

Costs Incurred

The necessary equipment, as well as sanitization material, and most PPE are already
stocked/owned by CARIRI. The following will need to be accounted for:

Projection 1 – Eurofins

Approximate Standardized
Item Unit Source
Cost Cost (USD)
37 mm cassettes with
0.2/0.3 µm PTFE
Box of 50 USD 259 259 Zefon
membranes (3-piece
cassette)
Cassette shipping
- 300 TTD 45 -
(estimate)
https://dickso
ndata.com/pr
New Dickson + Probe + oduct/build-a-
1 500 USD 500
Shipping (estimate) display-
logger/#base-
unit
Mecca
Disposable Coveralls Case of 50 2532 TTD 374
Industries Ltd.
www.uline.co
Cold-pack Box of 72 50 USD 50
m
Excellent
Storage cooler 1 200 TTD 30
Stores
Analysis (max) 2 Day
1 90 USD 90 EUROFINS
TAT
Sample Shipping
- 300 TTD 45 FEDEX
(estimate)
Total 1393
*Note reoccurring costs attached to Dickson calibration, new storage coolers, and cold-packs

**Samples to be classified as “Environmental Air Samples for Analysis” when shipping

***No blanks required

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AQMS – IAQ Air Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Draft Proposal

Projection 2 – EMSL

Standardized
Item Unit Approximate Cost Source
Cost (USD)
37 mm
50 units
cassettes with
(note,
0.2/0.3 µm
samples
PTFE USD 250 250 EMSL
are sold 5
membranes
USD per
(3-piece
unit)
cassette)
Cassette
shipping - 300 TTD 45 -
(estimate)
Disposable Case of Mecca Industries
2532 TTD 374
Coveralls 50 Ltd.
281 (526 when
Analysis 2 Day
1 281 USD accounting for EUROFINS
TAT
field blank)
Sample
Shipping - 300 TTD 45 FEDEX
(estimate)
995 (1276
when
Total
accounting for
field blank)
*Samples to be classified as “Environmental Air Samples for Analysis” when shipping

**1 Field blank required

***Ice/Coolers/Dickson not necessary. Methodology can be changed to reflect this.

Pending information

- Market survey