Lab Services

The Disinfection and Aerobiology lab focuses on the characterization and control of microbiological air pollution and microbially induced corrosion.  The lab performs genetic, biochemical and toxicological techniques to assess the efficacy of engineering interventions in sectors of sanitary engineering and industrial hygiene that are relevant to environmental health.  There is special focus on aerobiology and fomite science for wide-area surveillance, indoor cleaning technology and the design of disinfection systems in the built environment.

  • Technology focus: Disinfection of the built environment
  • Equipment summary: Small, medium and large chambers for aerosol and surface disinfection trials.
  • Analytical summary: Direct microscopic, biomarker, genomic and culturing analyses.
  • Open to: University, industry and philanthropic partners

The Disinfection and Aerobiology lab manages a 10m3 in house bioaerosol chamber.  Our lab also has priority access to full scale bioaerosol chambers (100 m3) outfitted with a dedicated conventional HVAC system and environmental control.  This HVAC system can be outfitted with a disinfection system of choice, or disinfectants / UV can be directly incorporated into room air independently at a chosen dose. This can be used to determine airborne (disinfection) inactivation rates of common nosocomial bacteria (e.g. Staph, Klebsiella, Psuedomonas etc), bacteriophage (MS2, Phi6) as well as many mammalian respiratory viruses (influenza, syncytial and paramyxoviruses, or coronaviruses) and allergens. 

The Disinfection and Aerobiology lab offers the following fee based analytical services in a 10m3 bioaerosol chamber. Each trial represents one controlled environmental condition (humidity & temperature) and requires a minimum of three replicates. In the case that no baseline data already exists, three baseline replicates will be required to accompany any requests. For the 100 m3 full scale facilities, please contact cuaerobiologylab@colorado.edu for pricing and availability (prices vary depending on agent, beginning at $30K for a suite of controls and disinfection challenges considering a minimum of 3 replicates). Use of special media amendments (saliva, mucus, lung lavage) is an additional $3,950 per trial. 

Trial Type

Trial Price 
(10m3 Chamber)

Bacteria, microscopy analysis$1,150
Bacteria, genomics analysis$4,675
Bacteria, culturing analysis$1,600
Virus, genomics analysis$7,875
Virus, culturing analysis$5,050
Fungi, microscopy analysis$1,150
Fungi, genomics analysis$4,725
Fungi, culturing analysis$1,600
Fungi, allergen analysis$4,725
Airborne allergen analysis$7,075

Our lab works with most common pure microbial cultures, primary mamalian cell lines, viruses and allergens:

  • bacterial nosocomial agents
  • fungal spores on EPA ERMI list
  • pollens found in temperate climates
  • viruses; and
  • allergens

A complete list can be found here. 

Please email cuaerobiologylab@colorado.edu to indicate the type and number of chamber runs requested.  Our team will confirm your order, schedule services, and send an invoice with payment instructions.