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 Quarantine time Detection Major component 3 Plexiglass Acrylic display cases and partitions Unstacked 5 days recoverable virus Acrylic 3 USB cassette Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, specific blend Unstacked 5 days recoverable virus Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 2 Archival folders -- Stacked 2 days not detectable Cellulose 2 Children’s board book -- Stacked, tested inside the book 4 days not detectable Cellulose 2 Braille paper -- Stacked 4 days not detectable Cellulose 2 Magazine pages -- Stacked 4 days trace detected Cellulose 1 Plain paper pages inside a closed book  -- Flat 3 days not detectable Cellulose 5 Cotton fabric 100% cotton Unstacked no data no data Cellulose 2 Glossy pages As found in coffee table books Stacked 4 days not detectable Cellulose 1 Hardback book cover Buckram book cover Flat 3 days not detectable Cellulose 4 Hardcover book cover Buckram cloth Stacked 6 days detectable Cellulose 4 DVD/CD case Polypropylene Stacked 6 days detectable Cellulose 1 Softback book cover Trade paperback Flat 3 days not detectable Cellulose 4 Softcover book cover Trade paperback Stacked 6 days detectable Cellulose 5 Leather book cover Leather (circa 1861) Unstacked 8 days detectable Leather 5 Nylon webbing Nylon weave Unstacked >1 hour not detectable Nylon 3 DVD Polycarbonate Unstacked 5 days not detectable Polycarbonate 1 Plastic book covering Biaxially oriented polyester film Flat 3 days not detectable Polyester 4 Plastic protective cover Biaxially oriented polyester film Stacked 6 days detectable Polyester 3 Storage container Rigid plastic: High-density polyethylene (HDPE), recycling #2 Unstacked 5 days recoverable virus Polyethylene (HDPE) 3 Storage bag Flexible plastic: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), recycling #4 Unstacked 5 days not detectable Polyethylene (LDPE) 4 Expanded polyethylene foam 1-inch thickness Unstacked, open air 6 days detectable Polyethylene foam 5 Polyolefin fabric 100% polyolefin Unstacked >1 hour not detectable Polyolefin 1 DVD/CD case Polypropylene Flat 3 days not detectable Polypropylene 5 Synthetic leather Expanded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Unstacked 8 days detectable Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)