A simple and rapid method to test the permeability of condoms to viruses

It is necessary that condoms be leakproof and that consumers be assured of their impermeability to viruses if they are to serve as an effective means of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and especially AIDS. Quality control techniques for condom use various physical and chemical means of detecting leaks but their impermeability to viruses is not tested directly. Tests with some viruses of sexually transmitted diseases must be made by experienced virologists in secure conditions. They are long and delicate not easily reproducible not amenable to standardization and consequently not appropriate for quality control use. These difficulties can be avoided by using coliphages to determine whether condoms are virus-proof. The culture of phi X 174 and T7 coliphages is easy and rapid their measurement is precise and their handling is safe. The phi X 174 virus is 27 nm and the T7 is 65 nm in diameter vs. 120 nm for herpes virus 100 nm for HIV 55 nm for papillomavirus and 42 nm for hepatitis B virus. 3 trials each were made with phi X 174 alone for 8 brands of condoms bought in different types of stores using the procedure outlined in the article. 23 tests were successfully carried out. The results were entirely positive (indicating permeability) for 2 brands negative and positive for 4 brands and entirely negative (indicating impermeability) for 2 brands. In the 2nd trial the T7 was tested on the 2 brands of condom that were permeable to phi X 174. 1 positive and 1 negative result was obtained for each. 10 tests of the 2 coliphages simultaneously using 4 brands gave coherent results. It is likely that condoms permeable to the T7 coliphage measuring 65 nm in diameter provide insufficient protection against contamination by the hepatitis virus and papillomavirus. The simple test outlined could be the basis for a norm for quality control of condoms that would not be redundant with currently performed tests.