The below table provides the first compilation of data on resistance of the SARS Coronavirus against environmental factors and disinfectants. This information has been provided by Members of the WHO multi-center collaborative network on SARS diagnosis. More detailed information on methods utilized and material used is being compiled and will be available shortly. The major conclusions from these studies are:
Virus survival in stool and urine
Disinfectants and fixatives (for use in laboratories)
Virus survival in cell-culture supernatant
Lab* Substrate Initial viral count log10PFU Condition Survival time Method of testing viability GVU virus spiked in baby stool 1.00E+03 pH 6-7 3 hr Virus isolation in cell culture virus spiked in normal stool 7.50E+03 pH 8 6hr Virus isolation in cell culture virus in diarrheal stool 7.50E+03 pH 9 4days Virus isolation in cell culture QMH stool 1.00E+03 Room Temperature at least 2 days Virus isolation in cell culture urine 1.00E+03 Room Temperature at least 24 hr Virus isolation in cell culture Virus culture medium+ 1% bovine serum 1.00E+03 on plastic surface in room temperature at least 2 days Virus isolation in cell culture Virus culture medium+ 1% bovine serum 1.00E+04 30-37°C at least 1hr Virus isolation in cell culture Virus culture medium+ 1% fetal calf serum 1.00E+04 56°C degration of titre over time (10 000 infectious virus units in 15 min) Virus isolation in cell culture virus in Acetone, 10% Formaldehyde and Paraformaldehyde, 10% Clorox, 75%ethanol, 2% phenol 1.00E+06 Room Temperature less than 5 min Virus isolation in cell culture NIID Virus culture+ 2% bovine serum 1.00E+06 minus 80°C at least 4 days Virus isolation and RT-PCR Virus culture+ 2% fetal calf serum 1.00E+06 4°C at least 4 days Virus isolation and RT-PCR Virus culture+ 2% fetal calf serum 1.00E+06 37°C less than 4 days Virus isolation and RT-PCR Virus culture+ 2% fetal calf serum 1.00E+05 56°C less than 30min UniM Virus culture 1.00E+06 4°C at least 21 days Virus isolation Virus culture 1.00E+06 minus 80°C at least 21 days Virus isolation
GVU: Government Virus Unit, Dept. of Health, Hong Kong, SAR China
QMH: Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
NIID: National Institute of infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
UnivM: University Marburg, Germany