Effect of time at temperature on wild poliovirus titers in stool specimens

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 482; pp. 28 - 31
• Main Authors: Walker, Allison Taylor, Williams, Alford J, Gary, Howard E, Pallansch, Mark A, Wassilak, Steven G.F, Oberste, M. Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Feces - virology; Humans; Infectious Disease; Microbial Viability - radiation effects; Poliovirus - physiology; Poliovirus - radiation effects; Specimen Handling - methods; Temperature; Time Factors; Viral Load; Specimen transport; Polio; Quality assurance; Reverse cold chain
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.03.005

Abstract Background The effect of transport temperature on the viability of poliovirus in stool specimens from paralyzed cases has not been tested. Quality assurance of programmatic indicators will be necessary in the final phase of polio eradication. Objective To estimate the effect of time at elevated temperatures on wild poliovirus titers in stool specimens. Methods We exposed aliquots of pooled wild poliovirus type 1 specimens to elevated temperatures (27 °C, 31 °C, and 35 °C) for varying time periods up to 14 days. We determined the virus titer of these aliquots and created decay curves at each temperature to estimate the relationship between time at temperature and virus titer. Results We found significantly different slopes of decay at each temperature. The negative slopes increased as the temperature increased. Conclusions While poliovirus in stool remains relatively stable at moderately elevated temperature, transport at higher temperatures could impact sample integrity and virus isolation results.