Huiron HRH-WSA300 High-Flow Bioaerosol Sampler

Overview

The Huiron HRH-WSA300 is a high-flow, portable bioaerosol sampler engineered for quantitative collection of airborne biological particles—including viable and non-viable viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, and other respirable microorganisms—into liquid suspension. It operates on the principle of cyclonic impingement: ambient air is drawn at 300 L/min through a tangential inlet into a rotating vortex chamber, where inertial forces drive particles toward the inner wall and subsequently into a recirculating liquid medium (≤15 mL). This physical capture mechanism preserves microbial viability and nucleic acid integrity far more effectively than dry filtration or impactor-based methods, enabling seamless integration with rapid molecular and biochemical downstream assays. Designed for field-deployable and laboratory-grade environmental monitoring, the HRH-WSA300 meets the structural and performance requirements of ISO 14698-1 (Biological contamination control — General principles and methods), making it suitable for routine use in regulated environments such as pharmaceutical cleanrooms, hospital isolation units, food production facilities, and agricultural biosecurity zones.

Key Features

• High-volume sampling at 300 L/min with active flow feedback control—maintaining accuracy within ±5% across variable pressure and filter loading conditions.
• Liquid-phase collection ensures high recovery efficiency (>70% for particles <1 µm), minimizing desiccation stress and supporting both culture-dependent and culture-independent analysis pathways.
• Programmable sampling modes: time-based (1–100 min) and volume-based (user-defined target air volume), with optional pre-sampling delay to synchronize with operational cycles.
• Real-time liquid replenishment system enables extended operation without manual intervention—critical for unattended monitoring over shifts or overnight deployments.
• Modular, autoclavable sampling head and detachable collection vessel (200 mL capacity) facilitate rapid decontamination between samples and reduce cross-contamination risk.
• Intuitive graphical interface with tactile navigation buttons and status LED indicators—designed for glove-compatible operation in PPE-restricted settings.
• Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery supports ~90 minutes of continuous operation; DC input option available for vehicle or benchtop power.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HRH-WSA300 delivers sample matrices compatible with a broad spectrum of analytical platforms: quantitative PCR (qPCR), digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), ELISA and lateral flow immunoassays, ATP bioluminescence assays (e.g., using luciferase-luciferin reagents), and flow cytometric enumeration. Its liquid output format eliminates the need for elution steps required by membrane filters—reducing procedural variability and improving assay reproducibility. The device conforms to GB/T 39990–2021 (Technical Specifications for Particulate Bioaerosol Samplers) and aligns with the metrological and functional criteria outlined in ISO 14698-1 for viable particle sampling in controlled environments. While not inherently 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, its audit-ready logging capability (time-stamped start/stop events, flow deviation alerts, and user ID tagging via optional firmware upgrade) supports GLP/GMP-aligned documentation workflows when integrated into validated laboratory information management systems (LIMS).

Software & Data Management

The HRH-WSA300 features embedded firmware with non-volatile memory that logs all critical sampling parameters—including actual flow rate (recorded every 10 seconds), total sampled volume, elapsed time, battery voltage, and error flags (e.g., low liquid level, flow deviation >±5%). Data export is supported via USB-C interface in CSV format, compatible with common statistical and compliance reporting tools. Optional PC-based configuration software allows batch programming of sampling protocols, remote diagnostics, and firmware updates. All timestamped records are traceable to internal real-time clock (RTC) with ±2 sec/month drift specification—ensuring temporal integrity for retrospective exposure assessment and regulatory submission.

Applications

• Healthcare: Monitoring airborne pathogen load in operating theatres, ICU ventilation ducts, and negative-pressure isolation rooms.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Routine environmental monitoring (EM) of Grade A/B cleanroom air during aseptic processing per EU GMP Annex 1.
• Food & cosmetics: Verification of airborne bioburden in filling lines, fermentation chambers, and packaging areas.
• Agriculture & veterinary: Characterizing zoonotic aerosol emissions from livestock barns, hatcheries, and manure-handling facilities.
• Research: Field studies of atmospheric bioaerosol diversity, urban microbiome mapping, and source apportionment modeling.
• Public health emergency response: Rapid deployment for outbreak investigations involving airborne transmission (e.g., influenza, SARS-CoV-2, Legionella).

FAQ

What is the minimum detectable particle size the HRH-WSA300 can efficiently collect?
The sampler demonstrates >70% collection efficiency for particles down to 0.3 µm under standard conditions—validated using polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres and biological aerosols such as MS2 bacteriophage and Bacillus atrophaeus spores.
Can the HRH-WSA300 be used for continuous unattended sampling over 2 hours?
With external DC power supply, yes. On internal battery alone, maximum runtime is ~90 minutes; however, the real-time replenishment function maintains stable liquid volume throughout this period.
Is the collection liquid compatible with RNA stabilization reagents?
Yes—the sampler accepts aqueous buffers including RNAlater®, DNA/RNA Shield™, and sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); users must verify compatibility with downstream extraction kits.
Does the device provide calibration certificates traceable to national standards?
Factory calibration is performed against NIST-traceable mass flow meters; full calibration reports and uncertainty budgets are supplied with each unit upon request.
How often does the cyclone chamber require cleaning or maintenance?
Under normal use, visual inspection and wipe-down with 70% ethanol after each sampling session is sufficient; full disassembly and ultrasonic cleaning are recommended every 50 operational hours or when residue accumulation is observed.