The Stabilizing Effect of Sucrose upon Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infectivity

Summary The effect of various concentrations of sucrose upon retention of RS virus viability during storage at different temperatures was studied. As the concentration of sucrose was increased, the survival of virus was enhanced. A concentration of 44.5% sucrose with storage at −70°C appeared to be optimal for retention of RS virus infectivity. Virus was stored under these conditions for periods in excess of 2 years with no significant loss in infectivity. Storage at −20°C, even in the presence of hypertonic sucrose, was less satisfactory than at 4°C or at −70°C. Cotton swabs containing less than 10 TCID50 retained viable virus in 44.5% sucrose at 4°C for a period of 7 days. The application of these observations in both the laboratory and clinic are discussed.