Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 by anatomical embalming solutions
Teaching and learning anatomy by using human cadaveric specimens has been a foundation of medical and biomedical teaching for hundreds of years. Therefore, the majority of institutions that teach topographical anatomy rely on body donation programmes to provide specimens for both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of gross anatomy. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to anatomy teaching because of the suspension of donor acceptance at most institutions. This was largely due to concerns about the potential transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the absence of data about the ability of embalming solutions to neutralise the virus. Twenty embalming solutions commonly used in institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland were tested for their ability to neutralise SARS-CoV-2, using an established cytotoxicity assay. All embalming solutions tested neutralised SARS-CoV-2, with the majority of solutions being effective at high-working dilutions. These results suggest that successful embalming with the tested solutions can neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus, thereby facilitating the safe resumption of body donation programmes and cadaveric anatomy teaching.
Funding
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
National University of Ireland, Galway
Imperial College London
Anatomical Committee of the Dublin Medical Schools
University of Cambridge
University of Aberdeen
University of Dundee
University College Cork
History
Comments
The original article is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/Published Citation
Quondamatteo F, et al. Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 by anatomical embalming solutions. J Anat. 2021;239(5):1221-1225.Publication Date
11 October 2021External DOI
PubMed ID
34633083Department/Unit
- Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, IncVersion
- Published Version (Version of Record)