CHARACTERIZATION OF AEROSOLIZED OVALBUMIN

Aerosol stability of ovalbumin at various environmental conditions was examined in terms of aerodynamic particle size/mass, particle concent ration, and detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ae rosols of ovalbumin were generated in a 1000 liter dynamic aerosol tor oid (DAT) drum and the aerosol was sampled over a two hour period with all-glass impingers (AGIs) and an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS(R)) . Aerodynamic size and mass increases, associated with increases in te mperature and relative humidity, were shown to be small but statistica lly significant (P less than or equal to 0.0014). A minimum of 50% of the aerosolized ovalbumin was detectable by ELISA after 2 h under all conditions tested. The stability of ovalbumin as demonstrated would al low it to be used as an aerosolized protein challenge material in biol ogical defense testing under the temperature and humidity conditions t ested.