Concentration of viruses from large volumes of tap water using pleated membrane filters

A method is described for the efficient concentration of viruses from large volumes of tap water in relatively short time periods. Virus in acidified tap water in the presence of aluminum chloride is adsorbed to a 10-inch (ca. 25.4 cm) fiberglass depth cartridge and a 10-inch pleated epoxy-fiberglass filter in series at flow rates of up to 37.8 liters/min (10 gallons/min). This filter series is capable of efficiently adsorbing virus from greater than 19,000 liters (5,000 gallons) of treated tap water. Adsorbed viruses are eluted from the filters with glycine buffer (pH 10.5) and the eluate is reconcentrated using an aluminum flocculation process. Viruses are eluted from the aluminum floc with glycine buffer (pH 11.5). Using this procedure, viruses in 1,900 liters (500 gallons) of tap water can be concentrated 100,000-fold in 3 h with an average recovery of 40 to 50%.