Open-cell foam biological indicator for bacteria detection and removal from water or air, and methods of use

1. A method of detecting a bacteria or virus biological contaminants, comprising:

exposing to the biological contaminant a foam biological indicator comprising an open-cell polyolefin foam material or open-cell polyurethane foam material;

after a time that is sufficient to accumulate the biological contaminant, removing some or all of the biological indicator; and

testing the removed biological indicator for the presence of the accumulated biological contaminant, wherein testing the removed biological indicator for the presence of the biological contaminant comprises placing a portion of the removed biological indicator in a sterile container, adding a surfactant, blending to separate the biological contaminant from the removed biological indicator, and culturing the biological contaminant in a nutritive medium.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises a cross-linked copolymer of ethylene and alkyl acrylate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises a cross-linked blend of a copolymer of ethylene and alkyl acrylate, and one or more other polymers.

4. The method claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises at least one of low density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), natural rubber, and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological indicator comprises a plurality of separate pieces of the foam that are suspended at various levels through a water column.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological indicator comprises at least one foam structure that is selected from the group of foam structures consisting of foam strips, and foam cubes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises a silane-grafted material or a silane-modified material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam is impregnated with a biocide.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein culturing the biological contaminant comprises removing from the sterile container and plating some of a liquid portion of the blend.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam material comprises one or more of ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene-ethyl acrylate (EEA), ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), synthetic rubber, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), olefin block copolymers, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, singe site initiated polyolefins, metallocene catalyzed polyolefins, grafted polymers including but not limited silane and maleic anhydride, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polyisoprene, and equivalents and blends thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises a polar component.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam is either crosslinked or not crosslinked, and is foamed with either a physical or chemical foaming agent.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exposing step comprises swabbing a surface with the biological indicator.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exposing step comprises placing the biological indicator and water into a container.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises a single site initiated polyolefin elastomer.