PURIFICATION OF MS2 BACTERIOPHAGE FROM COMPLEX GROWTH MEDIA AND RESULTING ANALYSIS BY THE INTEGRATED VIRUS DETECTION SYSTEM (IVDS)

Purification and concentration of viruses from the background material is required whatever subsequent analysis methods are used. For the analysis of viruses it is essential and detection methods depend on this solution. This report demonstrates a methodology for theremoval of growth media from a virus preparation. A sample of MS2 was purified using a new ultrafiltration (UF) technique with hollow fibers. A typical MS2 virus sample with a nominal stated concentration of 1.4 × 10 12 plaque-forming units (pfu)/mL in the original growth media was used to demonstrate this method. After UF, the growth media was removed and thevirus counted using theintegrated virus detection system (IVDS)instrument. This report further describes the use of this ultrafiltration procedure to remove other impurities, such as cesium chloride and albumin, from solutions containing a purified solution of MS2 bacteriophage. These solutions were also analyzed using the IVDS instrument.