Swine Barn Bio-Decontamination for Xenotransplantation Research Facility

A biotechnology company specializing in xenotransplantation faced an active viral outbreak inside a research swine barn housing high-value research animals critical to ongoing studies. With each animal representing years of development and significant investment, the client required a rapid, validated decontamination solution to eliminate the pathogen without jeopardizing research timelines or animal safety.

Challenges

• Biosecurity Risk: An active case of viral streptococcal pharyngitis was spreading between animals, threatening herd health and research continuity.

• High-Value Assets: Each animal represented years of significant research investment and could not be easily replaced.

• Operational Pressure: The client needed a solution that would resolve the outbreak without extended disruption to ongoing studies.

• Complex Environment: The 57,880 ft³ barn included porous surfaces, enclosed pens, feed systems, and HVAC infrastructure where pathogens could persist and re-emerge.

Solution

Sterile Science deployed a two-stage decontamination protocol designed to eliminate contamination at both the surface level and within hard-to-reach spaces.

• Triple-Clean Manual Protocol: A three-pass process using a surfactant detergent, sporicidal disinfectant, and 70% IPA to remove organic load, deliver primary microbial kill, and eliminate residue.

• Dry Fog Bio-Decontamination: Facility-wide treatment using Minncare Cold Sterilant dispersed as 7.5-micron particles to penetrate HVAC systems, ceiling cavities, and enclosed structures.

• Controlled Conditions: Treatment achieved ≥80% relative humidity with monitored contact time and full coverage of the 57,880 ft³ space, including HVAC.

Results

All 14 biological indicators placed throughout the facility achieved a full 6-log inactivation, confirming a sterility assurance level of 1 in 1,000,000 across even the most difficult-to-reach areas. The outbreak was fully resolved with zero recurrence observed after service, allowing the client to move forward without the lingering risk of reinfection or disruption to their research program.

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