Volume 26, Number 9—September 2020
Research Letter
Effect of Environmental Conditions on SARS-CoV-2 Stability in Human Nasal Mucus and Sputum
M. Jeremiah Matson, Claude Kwe Yinda, Stephanie N. Seifert, Trenton Bushmaker, Robert J. Fischer, Neeltje van Doremalen, James O. Lloyd-Smith, and Vincent J. Munster
Table
Half-life (t1/2) for SARS-CoV-2 in human nasal mucus and sputum under different environmental conditions*
| Sample and exposure type | Environment | Half-life, h (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Nasal mucus | ||
| Liquid | 4°C | 4.9 (3.5–8.7) |
| 21°C | 3.7 (3.1–4.7) | |
| 27°C | 3.1 (2.3–4.4) | |
| Surface |
4°C/40% RH | 3.3 (2.6–4.4) |
| 21°C/40% RH | 3.1 (2.5–4.1) | |
| 27°C/85% RH |
1.5 (1.2–1.9) |
|
| Sputum | ||
| Liquid | 4°C | 7.0 (5.8–8.9) |
| 21°C | 1.9 (1.3–3.2) | |
| 27°C | 1.3 (1.1–1.7) | |
| Surface | 4°C/40% RH | 5.8 (4.8–7.3) |
| 21°C/40% RH | 3.1 (2.3–4.6) | |
| 27°C/85% RH | 1.5 (1.1–2.4) |
*RH, relative humidity; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
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