Collection efficiencies of bioaerosol impingers for virus-containing aerosols

Abstract Impingers are common bioaerosol sampling instruments. In the last 20 years, impinger performance for collection of viable and non-viable bioaerosols in the 0.1–10 μm size range has been well documented. An ideal impinger has high collection efficiency for particles >0.1 μm. This research explored how well the 500 ml Greenburg–Smith (G–S) impingers collected particles between 0.1 and 2 μm, simulating virus aerosols, with minimal fluid evaporation during sample collection intervals near 60 min. Various impingers have differing dimensions that come into play when collecting viable samples of bioaerosols. The sampling environment can be modified to create optimum impingement conditions. Moderate differences in flow rate and impingement fluid volume may show distinct differences in the capture rate of viable samples within the bioaerosol impinger.