Nelson Labs Viral Filtration Efficiency (VFE)

This test procedure was performed to evaluate the VFE of test articles at an increased challenge level. A suspension of ΦX174 bacteriophage was delivered to the test article at a challenge level of greater than 10^7 plaque-forming units (PFU) to determine the filtration efficiency. The challenge was aerosolized using a nebulizer and delivered to the test article at a fixed air pressure and flow rate of 150 liters per minute (LPM). The aerosol droplets were generated in a glass aerosol chamber and drawn through the test article into all glass impingers (AGIs) for collection. The challenge was delivered for a 10-minute interval and sampling through the AGIs was conducted for 11 minutes to clear the aerosol chamber. The mean particle size (MRS) control was performed at a flow rate of 28.3 LPM using a sixstage, viable particle, Andersen sampler for collection. The VFE at an Increased Challenge Level test procedure was adapted from ASTM F2101.

This test procedure was modified from Nelson Laboratories, LLC (NL), standard VFE test procedure in order to employ a more severe challenge than would be experienced in normal use. NL has not performed a validation using the flow rate performed in this testing; however, adequate controls are included to verify the reliability of this study. All test method acceptance criteria were met.

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