RTI International - February 2008
Within an 18.16 m3 test chamber triplicate tests determined the survival/natural decay rate of three types of aerosolised pathogen: Staphylococcus Epidermidis (a vegetative bacterium), Aspergillus Versicolor (a fungus) and MS2 E. Coli Bacteriophage (a virus). Air; samples were taken at 0, 40, 80 and 120 minutes, with the exception of the suspended MS2 E. Coli Bacteriophage (a virus); the counts of which were already low after 80 minutes.
These triplicate tests were then repeated with a SafeAirTM 3500 unit operating on its Turbo setting within the chamber and air samples were taken at the same time intervals.
It is important to note that the figures shown on this graph do not illustrate the actual levels of pathogens remaining at any time during the Test. Rather, they show the level of accelerated destruction of the pathogens over and above the rate of natural decay that would occur under test conditions. A horizontal line taken from 100% on the Y Axis represents the normal levels of decay over the duration of the Test (time/X-Axis) and the charted lines show the levels of pathogens that survived with the SafeAirTM equipment running.
Specifically, after 120 minutes averages of 83.3% of Aspergillus Versicolor (fungus) and 85.1% of Staphylococcus Epidermidis (vegetative bacterium) were destroyed* over and above the natural decay rate.
After just 80 minutes an average of 92.6% of MS2 E. Coli Bacteriophage (virus) were destroyed* over and above the natural decay rate.
* The term 'destroy' means to either kill airborne bacteria, or to remove the ability of airborne bacteria to reproduce.
