ASTM D4994-89(2009)

1.1 This practice is used for the recovery of viruses from wastewater sludges and favors the enteroviruses.

1.2 Both procedures are applicable to raw, digested, and dewatered sludges.

1.3 This practice was tested on standardized sludges as described in 10.1. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this practice for untested matrices.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 Only adequately trained personnel should be allowed to perform these procedures and should use safety precautions recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, for work with potentially hazardous biological organisms.

Although many laboratories are presently isolating viruses from sludge, a valid comparison of data generated has not been possible because of the lack of a standard test method(s).