Temperature-sensitive gel for virus concentration from urine

Abstract

Cross-linked, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide gels (temperature-sensitive gels) with the property to swell at 4°C and collapse at higher temperatures (> 19°C) were used to concentrate bacteriophage T-2 from urine. Samples of urine, 50 ml, seeded with bacteriophage T-2 were reduced to approximately 5 ml, with an average virus recovery of 53%. Subsequent experiments with feline cell-associated herpes virus resulted in a 6-fold decrease in volume with 54% virus recovery. The gel could be used repeatedly without any loss in efficiency.