A new and simple method for concentration of enteric viruses from water.

A new type of electropositive filter media particle was tested to adsorb bacteriophage f2 and enteric viruses from tap water. 3 x nutrient broth (pH 7.2) was used to elute the adsorbed viruses, and the eluate was reconcentrated by polyethylene glycol (Mw 6000) precipitation with a final concentration of 10% (wt./vol.). The adsorption of bacteriophage was reliable and efficient, and not affected by the pH value, temperature, turbidity and organic materials in water. This method gave a recovery of Polio 1 virus 96.0% for small-volume tap water; 88.7% for large-volume water; and gave a comparable recovery of HAV, Coxsackie B3 and Echo 7 from tap water. The concentration method need not acidify virus-containing water, add exogenous multivalent cation salts, or require expensive equipment.