Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical exhaled breath condensate samples for metabolomic analysis. (20th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Shuang; McCartney, Mitchell M; Arredondo, Juan; Sankaran-Walters, Sumathi; Borras, Eva; Harper, Richart W; Schivo, Michael; Davis, Cristina E; Kenyon, Nicholas J; Dandekar, Satya
• Is Part Of: Journal of breath research. Volume 16:Number 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-20
• Subjects: exhaled breath condensate (EBC) -- SARS-CoV-2 -- COVID-19 -- metabolomics analysis -- infectious material; Volatile organic compounds -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Clinical chemistry -- Periodicals; Bad breath -- Periodicals; Bad breath -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Bad breath -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 616.0756
• DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ac3f24
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-7155

Abstract

Abstract: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is routinely collected and analyzed in breath research. Because it contains aerosol droplets, EBC samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals harbor the virus and pose the threat of infectious exposure. We report for the first time a safe and consistent method to fully inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in EBC samples and make EBC samples safe for processing and analysis. EBC samples containing infectious SARS-CoV-2 were treated with several concentrations of acetonitrile. The most commonly used 10% acetonitrile treatment for EBC processing failed to completely inactivate the virus in samples and viable virus was detected by the assay of SARS-CoV-2 infection of Vero E6 cells in a biosafety level 3 laboratory. Treatment with either 50% or 90% acetonitrile was effective to completely inactivate the virus, resulting in safe, non-infectious EBC samples that can be used for metabolomic analysis. Our study provides SARS-CoV-2 inactivation protocol for the collection and processing of EBC samples in the clinical setting and for advancing to metabolic assessments in health and disease.