REALM (COVID-19 test results)

Description

REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) is a research project conducted by OCLC, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Battelle to produce science-based information about how materials can be handled to mitigate COVID-19 exposure to staff and visitors of archives, libraries, and museums. The studies are conducted by applying the virulent SARS-CoV-2 virus on five materials (per test set) held at standard room temperature (68°F to 75°F) and relative humidity conditions (30 to 50 percent). Below are the results of tests completed to date.

Test Results

Test Item Material Conditions Detection 1 Hardback book cover Buckram book cover Flat not detectable after 1 day 1 Softback book cover Trade paperback Flat not detectable after 1 day 1 Plain paper pages inside a closed book  -- Flat not detectable after 3 days 1 Plastic book covering Biaxially oriented polyester film Flat not detectable after 3 days 1 DVD/CD case Polypropylene Flat not detectable after 1 day 2 Archival folders -- Stacked not detectable after 2 days 2 Glossy pages As found in coffee table books Stacked not detectable after 4 days 2 Children’s board book -- Stacked, tested inside the book not detectable after 4 days 2 Braille paper -- Stacked not detectable after 4 days 2 Magazine pages -- Stacked still detectable on day 4 3 DVD Polycarbonate Unstacked not detectable after 5 days 3 Storage bag Flexible plastic: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), recycling #4 Unstacked not detectable after 5 days 3 USB cassette Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, specific blend Unstacked still detectable on day 5 3 Storage container Rigid plastic: High-density polyethylene (HDPE), recycling #2 Unstacked still detectable on day 5 3 Plexiglass Acrylic display cases and partitions Unstacked still detectable on day 5 4 DVD/CD case Polypropylene Stacked still detectable on day 6 4 Hardcover book cover Buckram cloth Stacked still detectable on day 6 4 Softcover book cover Trade paperback Stacked still detectable on day 6 4 Plastic protective cover Biaxially oriented polyester film Stacked still detectable on day 6 4 Expanded polyethylene foam 1-inch thickness Unstacked, open air still detectable on day 6 5 Leather book cover Leather (circa 1861) Unstacked still detectable on day 8 5 Synthetic leather Expanded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Unstacked still detectable on day 8[[