Novaerus technology has been tested against MS2 Bacteriophage, a commonly used surrogate for SARS-CoV* (Coronavirus). Our technology was shown to reduce the virus by 99.99%
Global health authorities are currently monitoring an infectious outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus that started in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The respiratory infection, which is closely related to SARS and MERS, has been spreading across China, with cases also diagnosed in several other countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, France and the United States.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Symptoms of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. According to the WHO, in more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
It’s not yet clear how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person-to-person. However, previous strains of coronavirus, MERS and SARS, were thought to have been spread via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.
According to the CDC, symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
This recent viral outbreak highlights the vital role of airborne transmission in the spread of infection. Infectious aerosols can be extremely small (less than 5 μm) and remain suspended and viable in the air stream over long periods of time. Larger infectious particles can drop from the air to contaminate surfaces and hands.
Novaerus patented plasma technology has been shown to safely and effectively reduce airborne bacteria, viruses, VOCs, and particulate matter in dozens of independent laboratory tests. In case studies and clinical trials, our products have been demonstrated to reduce infections and improve wellbeing in real-world settings.
Novaerus technology has been tested against MS2 Bacteriophage, a commonly used surrogate for SARS-CoV* (Coronavirus). Our technology was shown to reduce the virus by 99.99%
The table below shows the range of viruses we have tested, along with the common surrogates associated with each virus.
Below are some important points about Novaerus viral testing.
- Novaerus technology has been independently tested against a range of viruses, showing consistent kill rates across both enveloped and non-enveloped strains.
- There are many different types of viruses in existence due to the variety of genomic structures. Viruses contain more structural genomic diversity than plants, animals, archaea, or bacteria.
- It is not possible for us to test against all types of viruses. We have therefore selected to test a range of viruses that are pathogenic to humans. We have also selected certain viruses that act as surrogates for other viruses that are too dangerous to be tested. These include enveloped and non-enveloped classes.
- Our patented plasma rapidly destroys pathogens using a combination of physical reactions (electroporation, electron bombardment, etching etc.). This has been tested and proven in independent testing carried out by the NASA Ames Research Centre, California.
- This process is not selective in its destruction. Given the rapid and consistent kill rates achieved using Novaerus, it is reasonable to anticipate that our plasma technology will show similar impact and rapid kill rates across all viral particles.
- Due to the small size of viruses, many filtration technologies are unable to trap viral particles. As Novaerus is a non-selective, rapid killing technology, it offers a unique and safe solution to kill airborne viruses 24/7, reducing the risk of disease and infectious outbreaks.
*(2010 – Evaluation of filters for the sampling and quantification of RNA Phage Aerosols, Louis Gendron et al.)
