Collection of airborne microorganisms in environments with low concentrations using different sampling systems

摘要

In many environments concentrations of airborne microorganisms may lay close to the lower detection limit of the standardized sampling methods. In this study, a Coriolis (R) mu cyclone collector, an MAS-100 NT (R) impactor and an AGI-30 impinger are used for collecting airborne microorganisms in environments with low airborne concentrations. The results are discussed under practical aspects. Although the MA-100 NT (R) showed the highest collection efficiency, the method gives only the number of particles carrying cultivable microorganisms. The Coriolis (R) mu had theoretically the lowest detection limit. The AGI-30 Impinger has the advantage that as a standardized sampling system it is used for a long time and therefore many corresponding data are available.