Factors in the Membrane Filtration of Enteroviruses

Abstract

The filtration of two species of enteroviruses through membranes of porosity ranging from 50 to 220 mμ was studied. It was shown that extensive or total losses of virus may attend filtration at these porosities, apparently owing to adsorption of the virus to the membrane matrix. This could be minimized by the incorporation of serum into the virus suspension at the time of filtration, or by pretreating the membrane with serum or with a gelatin solution. It was also found that the first few drops of filtrate, even under optimal conditions, were likely to be virus-free, so that the filtration of too small a volume of virus suspension would result in a relatively great loss of titer. The degree to which these factors were critical was found to decrease with increasing pore diameter.