Evaluation of copper alloy surfaces for inactivation of Tulane virus, a human norovirus surrogate, and human noroviruses.

Abstract

This study evaluated the efficacy of copper alloy surfaces for inactivation of Tulane

virus, a human norovirus surrogate, using plaque assay and porcine gastric mucin- conjugated magnetic beads (PGM-MB) binding assay followed by quantitative reverse

transcription-PCR (PGM-MB/PCR assay). Additionally, the sensitivities of human norovirus GII.4 Sydney and GI.3B Potsdam strains to copper alloy surfaces were assessed using PGM-MB/PCR assay. Time-dependent inactivation of viruses on copper alloy coupons revealed that, for Tulane virus, 15 min of copper alloy surface treatments achieved more than 4-log reductions, as assessed by plaque assay, while up to 20 min of

copper alloy surface treatments only achieved ~2-log reductions, as assessed by PGM- MB/PCR assay. As assessed by PGM-MB/PCR assay, 10 min of copper surface

treatments achieved reductions of 3 and 4 log units for human norovirus GII.4 Sydney

and GI.3B Potsdam, respectively. Results from this study suggest that even though PGM- MB/PCR assay underestimated the efficacy of copper alloy surface inactivation of Tulane

virus, copper alloys could effectively inactivate Tulane virus and human noroviruses. Therefore, copper alloys can be used as a preventive measure to prevent human norovirus infection and an effective surface treatment for human noroviruses.