JHX Burkard 7-Day/24-Hour Viable and Non-Viable Air Sampler

Overview

The JHX Burkard 7-Day/24-Hour Air Sampler is a precision-engineered, continuously operating volumetric air sampling instrument designed for long-term, unattended monitoring of airborne particulate matter—including viable microorganisms (e.g., fungal spores, bacteria), non-viable dust, pollen, and aerosolized allergens—in indoor environments such as hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing suites, research laboratories, and HVAC ducts. Based on the internationally recognized Burkard design (Model 8321798), it operates on the principle of isokinetic inertial impaction: ambient air is drawn vertically through a calibrated inlet orifice at controlled flow rates, ensuring particle-laden airflow matches local velocity profiles—thereby minimizing sampling bias and maximizing capture fidelity across aerodynamic diameters from 1 µm to >100 µm. Its mechanical architecture supports both 7-day adhesive tape collection (for extended environmental surveillance) and 24-hour slide-based sampling (for rapid microscopy or culture analysis), delivering reproducible, quantitative data essential for ISO 14644-1 cleanroom classification, EU GMP Annex 1 compliance, and USP / environmental monitoring programs.

Key Features

• Isokinetic top-mounted inlet geometry ensures laminar, low-turbulence particle entry—critical for maintaining representative sample integrity over extended durations.
• Dual-mode operation: Interchangeable sampling heads accommodate either continuous 7-day adhesive tape cassettes (with pre-calibrated rotational indexing) or standard 25 × 76 mm glass microscope slides for discrete 24-hour exposure.
• Integrated axial-flow turbine pump delivers stable, pulse-free airflow with minimal vibration—engineered for >10,000 hours MTBF and compatible with external vacuum sources for Class I Div 1/2 hazardous locations per NEC/IEC 60079 standards.
• Robust dual-material enclosure: Textured beige epoxy-coated carbon steel housing combined with stainless-steel structural components provides corrosion resistance in high-humidity, disinfectant-exposed, or industrial settings.
• Tool-free modular design enables rapid head removal, tape/slide replacement, and internal inspection without specialized tools—facilitating routine GLP-aligned maintenance and audit-ready traceability.
• Universal power architecture accepts 12 VDC (for battery or UPS backup), 110 V 60 Hz, or 220 V 50 Hz inputs—eliminating need for voltage converters in multinational deployments.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The sampler is validated for use with standard viscous silicone-based adhesive tapes (e.g., Burkard proprietary tape, 3M Scotch® 600 series) and sterile glass slides coated with mineral oil or culture media (e.g., Sabouraud dextrose agar). It complies with ISO 14698-1:2003 (Biocontamination control—General principles and methods), EN 13098:2000 (Microbiological methods—Sampling of air), and ASTM D6371-17 (Standard Practice for Air Sampling for Viable Microorganisms). When operated with calibrated flow meters and documented SOPs, data generated meet requirements for FDA 21 CFR Part 11–compliant electronic records when paired with validated LIMS integration protocols.

Software & Data Management

While the instrument operates autonomously without embedded firmware, its mechanical repeatability supports full traceability when integrated into laboratory informatics systems. Each sampling run is associated with a unique physical identifier (tape lot number, slide ID, timestamped logsheet), enabling linkage to ELN entries or LIMS workflows. Optional third-party flow calibration logs (e.g., using Bioscience Electronics Flow Checker) can be archived alongside environmental metadata (temperature, RH, pressure) for trend analysis per ISO 14644-2 surveillance requirements.

Applications

• Continuous environmental monitoring (EM) in Grade A/B cleanrooms supporting aseptic processing.
• Longitudinal assessment of airborne fungal burden in hospital wards, immunocompromised patient units, and transplant centers.
• Baseline and post-intervention air quality verification following HVAC remediation or biocide application.
• Outdoor-to-indoor spore intrusion studies in botanical research and allergy epidemiology.
• Validation of laminar airflow hoods, isolators, and RABS during qualification and periodic requalification.

FAQ

What is the recommended calibration frequency for this sampler?
Per ISO 14698-2, flow rate verification should occur before each sampling campaign and after any mechanical intervention; annual full calibration by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited provider is advised.
Can the unit be used outdoors?
Yes—when mounted on a weather-resistant stand and protected from direct precipitation, though inlet orientation must remain vertical and wind shielding is recommended for isokinetic accuracy.
Does it support automated data logging?
No native digital interface exists; however, external flow meters with analog/digital outputs (e.g., TSI 4000 series) can be integrated via 4–20 mA or RS-485 for centralized SCADA or BMS recording.
Is the adhesive tape compatible with MALDI-TOF identification workflows?
Yes—tape strips may be directly processed for microbial colony isolation followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, provided no solvent-based tape removal agents are used.
What safety certifications does the unit hold?
CE-marked per Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and EMC Directive 2014/30/EU; intrinsic safety certification available upon configuration with explosion-proof external vacuum interface.