Quality Assurance During a Global Pandemic: An Evaluation of Improvised Filter Materials for Healthcare Workers

Source avec lien : Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, (Prépublication), 8/21/2020. 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001986

Objectif : La prolifération des masques improvisés pendant la pandémie COVID-19 a soulevé des questions concernant l’efficacité et la sécurité des filtres. Nous avons cherché à comparer l’efficacité des matériaux filtrants improvisés couramment utilisés avec les normes industrielles N95. Méthodes : Six matériaux filtrants différents couramment utilisés dans la communauté ont été testés en utilisant des configurations à une ou plusieurs couches avec le testeur de filtres automatisé TSI 8130 conformément aux normes du National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) pour les respirateurs N95.

Objective:  The proliferation of improvised masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions regarding filter effectiveness and safety. We sought to compare the effectiveness of commonly used improvised filter materials against N95 industry standards. Methods:  Six different filter materials commonly used in the community were tested using both single- and multi-layer configurations with the TSI 8130 automated filter tester in accordance with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards for N95 respirators. Results:  Only three of the tested filter material configurations met N95 parameters with regard to filtration efficiency and pressure drop across the filter material–the: True-HEPA filter, 4-layer MERV 13 and 14 HVAC filters. Conclusions:  Many proposed filter materials for improvised masks do not meet current industry standards and may pose safety and efficacy concerns. Care should be taken when selecting materials for this critical respirator component, particularly for health care workers or others at high risk for pathogen exposure.

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