Comparative Performance Testing of Respirator versus Surgical Mask Using a Water Droplet Spray Model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there was shortage of the standard respiratory protective equipment (RPE). The aim of this study was to develop a procedure to test the performance of alternative RPEs used in the care of COVID-19 patients.

Methods

A laboratory-based test was developed to compare RPEs by total inward leakage (TIL). We used a crossflow nebulizer to produce a jet spray of 1-100 µm water droplets with a fluorescent marker. The RPEs were placed on a dummy head and sprayed at distances of 30 and 60 cm. The outcome was determined as the recovery of the fluorescent marker on a membrane filter placed on the mouth of the dummy head.

Results

At 30 cm, a type IIR surgical mask gave a 17.7% lower TIL compared with an FFP2 respirator. At 60 cm, this diffe

SUBMITTER: Scheepers PTJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7915861 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature