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NIOSH Bioaerosol Cyclone TE-BC251 Two-Stage Personal Sampler
The TE-BC251 is a wearable, two-stage bioaerosol cyclone developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and manufactured by Tisch Environmental. This personal sampler captures airborne viruses including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other bioaerosols for occupational health studies, environmental monitoring, and infectious disease research.
Two-Stage Collection Design
The TE-BC251 utilizes cyclonic separation to fractionate bioaerosols into distinct particle size ranges across multiple collection compartments. The first stage uses a 15 mL conical centrifuge tube to collect larger particles, while the second stage uses a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube to collect smaller particles. The remaining smallest particles are then captured by a filter.
The particle size cut-off for each collection stage is dependent on the sampling pump flow rate. The chart below shows the collection efficiencies of the TE-BC251 at three different flow rates.
| Flow rate (liters/min) | 1st stage 50% cut-off size (µm) | 1st stage sharpness (geometric standard deviation) | 2nd stage 50% cut-off size (µm) | 2nd stage sharpness (geometric standard deviation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4.9 | 1.48 | 1.7 | 1.68 |
| 3.5 | 4.1 | 1.51 | 1.0 | 1.59 |
| 10 | 2.1 | 1.44 | 0.41 | 1.56 |
Key Specifications
- Collection Method: Two-stage cyclonic separation plus final filter
- Design: Wearable, lightweight construction for personal monitoring
ACGIH/ISO Compliance
At 3.5 l/min, the BC 251 conforms to the ACGIH/ISO criterion for separation of respirable and non-respirable airborne particles, which is widely used in health-related aerosol measurements. This standardized flow rate ensures consistent, comparable results across different sampling environments and applications.
Compatibility and Setup
The sampler can be operated with commercially-available personal air sampling pumps. Connection is made via vinyl tubing and Luer fitting to the top of the filter cassette. For field deployment, the TE-BC251 can be paired with an optional backpack system to carry both sampler and pump, or mounted on a tripod stand for stationary sampling.
Complete Sampling Kit
Each TE-BC251 package includes:
- BC251 cyclone sampler body
- Heavy-duty carrying case
- Two 15 mL conical centrifuge tubes with caps
- Two 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes with caps
- O-ring grease jar
- 10 EPDM O-rings (TE-BC251-5, 1/16" width, dash 027)
- Filter cassette
Applications
The BC 251 has been successfully used to collect airborne influenza virus in healthcare facilities and from the coughs of influenza patients. Primary applications include:
- Healthcare facility bioaerosol monitoring
- Occupational exposure assessment in clinical settings
- Environmental surveillance for airborne pathogens
- Respiratory aerosol research and characterization
- Infectious disease transmission studies
- Personal exposure monitoring for healthcare workers
Maintenance Notes
Replace O-rings (TE-BC251-5) as needed to maintain proper sealing between sampler components. Clean collection tubes and filter cassettes between sampling periods following standard laboratory decontamination procedures. Apply O-ring grease during assembly to ensure leak-free operation at specified flow rates.