Comparison of various transport media for viability maintenance of herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus.

Seven viral transport media (VTM) were compared for effectiveness in preserving the infectivity of herpes simplex virus (HSV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and adenovirus. The media tested were Richards viral transport, sucrose-phosphate-glutamate (SPG), Virocult, HH medium, tryptose phosphate broth, cell culture medium, and Bartel's viral transport. Two laboratory strains of HSV (McIntyre and 333) and two clinical isolates (A0301 and A0386), comprising two HSV-1 types and two HSV-2 types, were suspended in each transport medium, kept at 4 degrees C and 22 degrees C, and assayed for surviving virus at various times of up to 2 weeks. Similar testing was done with RSV Long strain and adenovirus type 2. Of the seven media, Richards viral transport, SPG, Virocult, and HH medium, followed closely by tryptose phosphate broth, best preserved HSV infectivity at both 4 degrees C and 22 degrees C. Analysis of decay rates of RSV revealed comparatively rapid decay in SPG and Virocult. Adenovirus was stable in all media and at both temperatures tested. These results indicate that viral transport and subsequent culture isolation are possible using many different VTMs if transport times are kept to a minimum (< 1 day), but if transport extends to longer times, or low levels of virus are present in the specimen, Richards viral transport and HH medium appeared to be the best overall transport media for the viruses tested.