Ebola Virus Inactivation by Detergents Is Annulled in Serum

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 2017-10, Vol.216 (7), p.859-866
• Main Authors: van Kampen, Jeroen J. A., Tintu, Andrei, Russcher, Henk, Fraaij, Pieter L. A., Reusken, Chantal B. E. M., Rijken, Mikel, van Hellemond, Jaap J., van Genderen, Perry J. J., Koelewijn, Rob, de Jong, Menno D., Haddock, Elaine, Fischer, Robert J., Munster, Vincent J., Koopmans, Marion P. G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Detergents - pharmacology; Ebolavirus - drug effects; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Laboratories; Macaca mulatta; Major and Brief Reports; Octoxynol; Serum; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - pharmacology; Virus Inactivation - drug effects; VIRUSES
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix401

Inactivation of Ebola virus by 0.1% Triton X-100 or sodium dodecyl sulfate is annulled by serum. Although this treatment does not interfere with clinical chemistry tests, it is not a safe way to inactivate blood samples from Ebola virus–infected patients. Abstract Background Treatment of blood samples from hemorrhagic fever virus (HFV)–infected patients with 0.1% detergents has been recommended for virus inactivation and subsequent safe laboratory testing. However, data on virus inactivation by this procedure are lacking. Here we show the effect of this procedure on diagnostic test results and infectious Ebola virus (EBOV) titers. Methods Serum and whole-blood samples were treated with 0.1% or 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or 0.1% Triton X-100 and assayed for clinical chemistry and malaria antigen detection. Infectious EBOV titers were determined in SDS-treated plasma and whole blood from EBOV-infected nonhuman primates (NHPs). Infectious titers of EBOV or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in detergents-treated cell culture medium containing various serum concentrations were determined. Results Laboratory test results were not affected by 0.1% detergent treatment of blood samples, in contrast with 1% SDS treatment. However, 0.1% detergent treatment did not inactivate EBOV in blood samples from infected NHPs. Experiments with cell culture medium showed that virus inactivation by detergents is annulled at physiological serum concentrations. Conclusions Treatment of blood samples with 0.1% SDS or Triton X-100 does not inactivate EBOV. Inactivation protocols for HFV should be validated with serum and whole blood.