REALM (COVID-19 test results)
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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.
For more information, please see: https://www.oclc.org/realm/home.html
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 |
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