EVALUATION OF 4 BIOAEROSOL SAMPLERS IN THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT

Introduction: A comparative evaluation of four air samplers was perfor med using bioaerosol collection in the outdoor environment. Methods: T est samplers used included a Rotorod, a Kramer-Collins suction trap, a n all-glass impinger (AGI-30), and a high-volume cyclonic liquid impin ger (SpinCon). All samples were analyzed microscopically for spores an d pollen. The two collectors providing a liquid sample (AGI-30 and Spi nCon) also were analyzed for specific allergen content by enzyme-linke d immunoassay. Results: The SpinCon collected a larger number of spore s than the other devices. The number of spores collected by this unit per volume of air sampled was comparable to the AGI-30. The Rotorod an d Kramer-Collins collected a lower number of spores per unit of air bu t collected a larger number of pollen grains per volume sampled. Alter naria allergens Alt a I and GP70 were collected by both liquid impinge rs; however, the SpinCon collected more Alt a I and the AGI-30 collect ed more GP70. Conclusions: The SpinCon is a device that is capable of efficiently sampling a high volume of air and concentrating it in a fo rm that can be analyzed for the presence of spores and fungal allergen s. It is less useful for collecting intact pollen grains. Pollen aller gen quantitation has not yet been performed on the SpinCon effluent.