Figure 1.
Flow chart showing patients and tests performed.
The numbers in parentheses are the number of aerosol samples collected using SKC BioSamplers and NIOSH aerosol samplers.
Figure 2.
Influenza viral RNA collected from coughs using the NIOSH two-stage aerosol sampler.
Influenza viral RNA was detected in the cough aerosols from 32 of 38 influenza-positive patients. This plot shows the number of viral copies per cough detected in aerosol particles collected in sampler tube 1 (>4 µm), tube 2 (1 to 4 µm) and the filter (<1 µm) for each patient, ordered from minimum to maximum. The particles collected in tube 2 and on the filter are respirable (able to reach the alveolar region).
Table 1.
Influenza viral RNA detected in the NIOSH two-stage aerosol sampler.
Table 2.
Viral plaque assay results for cough-generated aerosols.
Table 3.
Clinical presentation of study participants.
Figure 3.
Cough aerosol particle collection system.
Before each test, the piston spirometer was purged and partially filled with 5 liters of clean dry air. When the patient coughed into the system mouthpiece, the cough flowed through an ultrasonic spirometer which measured the cough volume and flow rate. The cough then flowed through a valve and into the piston spirometer, displacing the piston to the right. When the subject finished coughing, the valve was closed and the aerosol sampler was turned on. The cough aerosol was pulled out of the spirometer and collected by the aerosol sampler. As the aerosol sampler drew air, the piston moved to the left until no air remained in the spirometer.