REALM Test 3 Complete - Updated Recommendations

August 27, 2020

We continue to learn more every day about the novel coronavirus and what best practices we should adopt to best safeguard against the possible spread of COVID-19.

On August 18, the REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) project published the results of the third round of Battelle’s laboratory testing for COVID-19 on five plastic-based materials: talking book USB cassettes, DVD, storage bags, storage containers, and plexiglass.

Compared to the results of Test 1 and 2, this data set suggests that a slightly longer quarantine time for some plastic-based materials may be required to render SARS-CoV-2 undetectable through natural attenuation alone. However, because the materials are nonporous, a liquid disinfectant could be used instead of a prolonged quarantine period.

Since early May, as part of the REALM project research, Battelle has conducted three phases (or tests) to provide information on how long some commonly handled library materials would generally need to be quarantined in order for the virus to be undetectable.

Based on the Test 3 results, MLA recommends that any plastic products (DVD’s, storage bags and containers, plexiglass, etc.) be quarantined for at least 5 days or cleaned thoroughly with liquid disinfectant prior to re-lending.

MLA continues to recommend that all Michigan libraries quarantine any paper products (hardcover and paperback books, magazines, archival folders, etc.) for 4 days (96 hours).

View the Test 3 results. Download the Test 3 Report (PDF)