NEMI Method Summary

Method Summary Information

Method Number: 9510D Media: WATER
Revision: Standard Methods Online
Method Source: Standard Methods
Subcategory: MICROBIOLOGICAL Analytes in this method
Official Name: Virus Concentration by Aluminum Hydroxide Adsorption Precipitation
Descriptive Name Virus Concentration by Aluminum Hydroxide Adsorption Precipitation
Source Info: Standard Methods Online is jointly produced by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the Water Environment Federation (WEF).
These organizations may be contacted by phone for more information on Standard Methods Online:
APHA: (301) 893-1894
AWWA: (800) 926-7337, (1-303-794-7711, outside U.S. / Canada)
WEF: (800) 666-0206 (1-703-684-2452 outside U.S. / Canada)
Citation: Standard Methods Online
 
Brief Method
Summary:
 Viruses can be concentrated from small volumes of water, wastewater, and adsorbent filter eluates by precipitation with aluminum hydroxide. Viruses are adsorbed to an aluminum hydroxide precipitate that is either added to the sample or formed in the sample from soluble aluminum salt and a base such as sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide. Viruses are allowed to adsorb to the aluminum hydroxide precipitate and the virus-containing precipitate is collected by filtration or centrifugation. The recovered precipitate may be inoculated directly into laboratory hosts for virus assay or the viruses are eluted from the precipitate with an alkaline buffer or a proteinaceous solution before virus assay. The major limitations of this method are that sample size is limited to a few liters, soluble organic matter can interfere with virus adsorption, and virus recovery from the precipitate may be incomplete. Virus adsorption may be improved by forming the aluminum hydroxide precipitate in the sample instead of adding it preformed. Although virus adsorption can be maximized by using large amounts of aluminum hydroxide, the adsorbed viruses become more difficult to elute. Therefore, some intermediate amount of aluminum hydroxide is used to achive maximum virus recovery. Also, aluminum hydroxide is a relatively nonspecific adsorbent so that other substances may be concentrated with the viruses. The presence of such impurities may cause the concentrated sample to be toxic for the cell cultures used for the virus assay. Technique: Filtration.
Scope And
Application:
 Concentration of viruses in water
Applicable
Conc Range:
 N/A
Interferences: N/A
QC Requirements: N/A
Sample Handling: N/A
Max Holding Time:
 N/A
Sample Prep Met Sterilize all equipment
Relative Cost: Less than $50
URL to obtain ordering information for this method:
http://www.standardmethods.org/
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