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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.11.12.380196

A practical PPE decontamination method using warm air and ambient humidity

Kwiek, J. J.·Pickett, C. R.·Flanigan, C. A.·Lee, M. V.·Saif, L. J.·Jahnes, J.·Blonder, G.
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Abstract

Despite a year-and-a-half of Sars-CoV-2 pandemic experience, personal protective equipment (PPE) remains in short supply1. Current decontamination methods are complex, slow, expensive and particularly ill-suited for low to middle income nations where the need is greatest. We propose a low temperature, ambient humidity decontamination method (WASP-D) based on the thirty minute or less half-life of Sars-CoV-2 (and other common pathogens) at temperatures above 45{degrees}C, combined with the observation that most PPE are designed to be safely transported and stored at temperatures below 50{degrees}C. Decontamination at 12 hours, 46{degrees}C (115{degrees}F) and ambient humidity should consistently reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load by a factor of 106, without negatively affecting PPE materials or performance.

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Kwiek, J. J., Pickett, C. R., Flanigan, C. A., Lee, M. V., Saif, L. J., Jahnes, J., Blonder, G.. 2020-11-12. A practical PPE decontamination method using warm air and ambient humidity. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.12.380196

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