Development and validation of the TefTex electrostatic wipe for indoor dust sampling

Published: August 5th, 2012

Revised: July 21st, 2014

Konya T, Ewaze JO, Urch B, Shu H, Curran J, Speck M, Allen R, Brook J, Diamond M, Evans G, Takaro T, Wheeler A, Scott JA. 2012. Development and validation of the TefTex electrostatic wipe for indoor dust sampling. Healthy Buildings 4H.9: 1-5.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a cost-effective method for the collection of indoor dust samples for characterization of endotoxin and ß-(1,3)-D-glucan using TefTex electrostatic wipes – pyrogen-free, polytetrafluoroethylene fibre sampling cloths. Trained research technicians visited 39 homes in Vancouver, Canada in 2009–2010 and collected two wipe samples from door tops and door frames in a bedroom and livingroom.Vacuum-collected dust samples were also obtained from flooring. Glucan and endotoxin were measured by LAL, using previously described methods. The combined endotoxin levels found on the 2 wipes were correlated with endotoxin content of vacuum collected dust (r = 0.262, p = 0.021). Similarly, combined glucan results for the wipes were correlated well with vacuum collected dust samples (r = 0.326, p = 0.004). These results suggest that TefTex wipes may provide a meaningful point-in-time means of ranking endotoxin and glucan content of dust in the home environment.

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