Assessment of Inactivation Procedures for SARS CoV 2
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) the causative agent of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) presents a challenge to laboratorians and healthcare workers around the world. Handling of biological samples from individuals infected with the SARS CoV 2 virus requires strict biosafety and biosecurity measures. Within the laboratory, non propagative work with samples containing the virus requires, at minimum, Biosafety Level 2 (BSL 2) techniques and facilities. Therefore, handling of SARS CoV 2 samples remains a major concern in areas and conditions where biosafety and biosecurity for specimen handling is difficult to maintain, such as in rural laboratories or austere field testing sites. Inactivation through physical or chemical means can reduce the risk of handling live virus and increase testing ability worldwide. Herein we assess several chemical and physical inactivation techniques employed against SARS CoV 2 isolates from Cambodian COVID 19 patients. This data demonstrates that all chemical (AVL, inactivating sample buffer and formaldehyde) and heat treatment (56degC and 98degC) methods tested completely inactivated viral loads of up to 5 log10.