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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 2004, p. 4740-4747, Vol. 70, No. 8
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.8.4740-4747.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Determination of the Efficacy of Two Building Decontamination Strategies by Surface Sampling with Culture and Quantitative PCR Analysis

Mark P. Buttner,^1* Patricia Cruz,¹ Linda D. Stetzenbach,¹ Amy K. Klima-Comba,¹ Vanessa L. Stevens,¹ and Tracy D. Cronin^2,

Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies, University of Nevada—Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-4009,¹ Technical Support Working Group, Arlington, Virginia 22202²

Received 20 November 2003/ Accepted 16 April 2004

The efficacy of currently available decontamination strategies for the treatment of indoor furnishings contaminated with bioterrorism agents is poorly understood. Efficacy testing of decontamination products in a controlled environment is needed to ensure that effective methods are used to decontaminate domestic and workplace settings. An experimental room supplied with materials used in office furnishings (i.e., wood laminate, painted metal, and vinyl tile) was used with controlled dry aerosol releases of endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus ("Bacillus subtilis subsp. niger," also referred to as BG), a Bacillus anthracis surrogate. Studies were performed using two test products, a foam decontaminant and chlorine dioxide gas. Surface samples were collected pre- and posttreatment with three sampling methods and analyzed by culture and quantitative PCR (QPCR). Additional aerosol releases with environmental background present on the surface materials were also conducted to determine if there was any interference with decontamination or sample analysis. Culture results indicated that 10⁵ to 10⁶ CFU per sample were present on surfaces before decontamination. After decontamination with the foam, no culturable B. atrophaeus spores were detected. After decontamination with chlorine dioxide gas, no culturable B. atrophaeus was detected in 24 of 27 samples (89%). However, QPCR analysis showed that B. atrophaeus DNA was still present after decontamination with both methods. Environmental background material had no apparent effect on decontamination, but inhibition of the QPCR assay was observed. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of two decontamination methods and illustrate the utility of surface sampling and QPCR analysis for the evaluation of decontamination strategies.

Present address: Smiths Detection, Edgewood, Md.

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