A NEW METHOD OF CORONAVIRUS VIRION DETECTION – INNOVATIVE METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION TRANSFORMING.

Purpose: the article presents the result of an attempt to assess the possibility of using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) to identify silica nanoparticles (SiO2), which, due to the size of individual particles (200 nm), can be used as coronavirus markers in simulation tests. Methodology: SEM/EDS evaluation was performed using three different media types; namely membrane filters, sponge filters and graphite discs. Result: SEM/EDS studies, consisting in determining the morphology and grain size of SiO2 markers and X-ray microanalysis of their elemental composition, proved that this technique can be successfully used to identify markers. Originality: due to their particle size, ease of handling with various types of surfaces, and biological and physicochemical neutrality, silica markers can act as coronavirus substitutes in experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]