Highly sensitive airborne virus monitoring: microfluidic cartridge for RIAMs

A recent study published in Nature Communications presents a novel approach for monitoring airborne respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, B, and respiratory syncytial virus, using an integrated microfluidic cartridge. This system achieves a remarkable sensitivity of 10 copies/mL and a spatial resolution of 0.83 copies/m³ when combined with a high-flow aerosol sampler operating at 400 L/min over a 30-minute sampling period. The research introduces three versions of the virus-in-aerosols monitoring systems (RIAMs): multi-site sampling (M-RIAMs), stationary real-time (S-RIAMs), and roaming real-time (R-RIAMs), tailored for various application scenarios. The study evaluated 210 environmental samples from COVID-19 wards, revealing a 60% positive detection rate in aerosol samples, underscoring the effectiveness of aerosol-based monitoring for spatial risk assessment. The S-RIAMs demonstrated reliability in real-world settings, confirming their potential for continuous and ultra-sensitive airborne virus monitoring. This innovative system addresses the limitations of traditional methods, which often rely on centralized laboratory analysis, by enabling real-time, on-site detection of airborne pathogens, thus enhancing public health responses to airborne virus transmission.

- The integrated microfluidic cartridge can detect respiratory viruses at ultra-low concentrations.

- The system achieves a spatial resolution of 0.83 copies/m³, significantly improving monitoring capabilities.

- Three versions of the monitoring system cater to different environmental and situational needs.

- The study demonstrated a high positive detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol samples from clinical settings.

- This technology offers a promising solution for real-time surveillance of airborne viruses, enhancing public health safety.