Although numerous diseases are transmitted through the air, little is known about the exact changes that occur during the aerosol transportation. Parameters such as humidity, temperature, and irradiation affect the viability and infectivity of airborne pathogens during transmission and sampling. Although the extent of these effects varies by strain and sampling method, inactivation remains a common challenge in bioaerosol analysis. To comprehensively analyse the life cycle of a microorganism suspended in the air from emission to deposition, it is crucial to use analysis methods that minimally impact the analyte but do not compromise on sampling efficiency. 

The two primary components used for sampling bioaerosols in our set-up are a growth tube, which uses water as the working fluid, and a cyclone sampler designed for continuous sampling. Under supersaturated conditions, water condenses onto the microorganisms, causing the size of the analyte particles to increase. This process produces particles with a diameter in the low micrometre range (~ 3µm). The droplets are then collected by impaction onto a thin layer of liquid inside the cyclone and transported towards a skimmer, where the liquid is aspirated from the cyclone by an external pump. The combined system offers a novel approach for near-real-time sampling of microbial particles and exhibits enhanced physical and biological sampling efficiency.