Bertin Coriolis+ Wet-Wall Cyclonic Bioaerosol Sampler

Overview

The Bertin Coriolis+ is a high-flow, wet-wall cyclonic bioaerosol sampler engineered for quantitative, culture-independent collection of airborne microorganisms and submicron biological particles—including viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, pollen, and endotoxins. Unlike impaction or filtration-based samplers, the Coriolis+ employs inertial separation within a rotating fluid film: incoming air is accelerated tangentially into a conical chamber where centrifugal force drives particles toward a continuously replenished liquid film lining the inner wall. Particles impact and are immediately suspended in the collection medium (typically sterile buffer or nutrient broth), preserving viability and molecular integrity. This principle enables efficient capture of particles down to <0.5 µm (d₅₀ ≈ 0.5 µm), a critical capability for viral aerosol monitoring and low-biomass environments. The system delivers collected analytes in a homogeneous liquid suspension—eliminating desiccation stress, minimizing shear damage, and ensuring compatibility with downstream rapid microbiological methods (RMMs) and molecular assays.

Key Features

• High-volume sampling at 100–300 L/min, adjustable in 50 L/min increments—enabling statistically robust detection in low-concentration environments (e.g., cleanrooms, outdoor ambient air, or HVAC ducts).
• Fixed 15 mL collection volume ensures consistent sample concentration, prevents over-dilution or overflow, and facilitates direct partitioning for parallel analysis (e.g., PCR + ATP assay + microscopy).
• Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) module supports unattended operation for up to 6 hours, ideal for time-resolved exposure assessment in occupational hygiene or environmental epidemiology studies.
• Integrated rechargeable Li-ion battery provides ~2 hours of cordless operation—suitable for mobile surveys, field deployments, and emergency response scenarios.
• H₂O₂-compatible design allows validated decontamination between sampling events, supporting GLP-compliant workflows and cross-sample integrity in multi-user labs.
• No consumable filters or plates required—reducing operational cost, eliminating filter clogging artifacts, and avoiding recovery efficiency losses associated with elution steps.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Coriolis+ meets the performance validation requirements of ISO 14698-1:2003 (Biocontamination control of cleanrooms and associated controlled environments), as independently verified by the UK Health Protection Agency (now UKHSA). Its biological collection efficiency was benchmarked against reference methods (agar settle plates and membrane filtration) using *Staphylococcus epidermidis* ATCC 14990, achieving 78% recovery at d₅₀ ≈ 0.5 µm. The instrument carries CE marking per EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, UL listing for electrical safety, and CEM certification for electromagnetic compatibility. It is designed for use in regulated environments governed by EU GMP Annex 1, USP , and FDA 21 CFR Part 11—particularly when paired with audit-trail-enabled software for data integrity. All wetted materials are chemically resistant to common decontaminants (e.g., 5–7% hydrogen peroxide vapor), supporting routine sterilization without degradation.

Software & Data Management

Operation is managed via an intuitive, menu-driven interface with real-time display of flow rate, elapsed time, remaining battery, and error codes. Sampling protocols—including start delay, duration, flow setpoint, and LTM activation—are programmable and stored in non-volatile memory. While the base unit does not include onboard data logging, it interfaces seamlessly with third-party Lab Information Management Systems (LIMS) via RS-232 or USB-serial emulation. For full traceability, users may integrate the Coriolis+ into validated electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) that enforce 21 CFR Part 11 compliance—ensuring electronic signatures, audit trails, and secure archiving of acquisition parameters and operator metadata. Exported CSV logs contain timestamped flow stability metrics, enabling post-hoc assessment of sampling fidelity.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical & Biotech: Environmental monitoring of Grade A/B cleanrooms, isolator qualification, and aseptic process risk assessment per EU GMP Annex 1.
• Food & Cosmetic Manufacturing: Pathogen surveillance in production zones, allergen dispersion mapping, and shelf-life modeling of airborne spoilage organisms.
• Public Health & Epidemiology: Source tracking of airborne pathogens (e.g., influenza, SARS-CoV-2) in hospitals, schools, and transportation hubs.
• Agricultural & Veterinary Settings: Bioaerosol exposure assessment in livestock barns, poultry houses, and composting facilities.
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Research: Quantitative characterization of fungal spore dynamics, endotoxin load, and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) precursors.
• Biosafety & BSL-3/4 Labs: Exhaust air verification, glovebox leak testing, and containment validation using non-culture-based endpoints.

FAQ

What types of biological agents can the Coriolis+ effectively collect?
It captures viable and non-viable bioaerosols across the size spectrum: viruses (e.g., influenza, rhinovirus), bacteria (e.g., *Bacillus*, *Pseudomonas*), fungal spores (e.g., *Aspergillus*, *Penicillium*), pollen, and proteinaceous allergens—all while maintaining nucleic acid integrity for PCR and antigen stability for immunoassays.

How does wet-wall cyclonic collection compare to impaction or filtration?
Unlike impactors—which subject particles to high shear forces and desiccation—or filters—which require elution and suffer from variable recovery—the Coriolis+ deposits particles directly into liquid with minimal mechanical stress, yielding higher recovery rates for fragile analytes and eliminating extraction bias.

Is the Coriolis+ suitable for regulatory submissions?
Yes. Its ISO 14698-1 validation, CE/UL/CEM certifications, and compatibility with Part 11–compliant data systems support use in GMP, GLP, and ISO 17025-accredited laboratories for environmental monitoring reports submitted to EMA, FDA, or PMDA.

Can I use custom collection media?
Yes. The system accepts any aqueous, non-viscous, non-corrosive liquid (e.g., PBS, RNAlater®, viral transport media), provided it remains stable under centrifugal shear and does not compromise the PTFE-coated wetted path.

What maintenance is required between sampling events?
After each use, the conical collector and tubing must be rinsed with water and sterilized via H₂O₂ vapor (≥500 ppm, ≥30 min exposure) or autoclaved (121°C, 20 min). No calibration is required between runs; flow accuracy is maintained via factory-calibrated mass flow sensors with NIST-traceable documentation.