Validation of N95 respirator mask for the Re-use in the pandemic crisis

Abstract

The SARS COVID 19 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus Disease 2019) pandemic has created a surge in the need for N95 respirators all across the world. Health care systems are struggling to find a way to cleanse and decontaminate the N95 masks for reuse. To combat the crisis there is a need to validate the N95 mask for efficiency and air filterability on repeated exposure to UV irradiation and vaporized hydrogen peroxide with equal parts of normal saline. To validate N95 respirator mask by using UVGI (Ultra Violet Germicidal Irradiation) method using UV hood and VHP (Vaporized Hydrogen peroxide 6% with equal volume saline 0.9% using an OT fogger machine). VHP decontamination is the method of choice to repeatedly re-sterilize N95 masks. Decontamination by the VHP method is more efficient in killing microorganisms within a short duration of exposure (60 minutes). The method retains the texture of the mask material, re-usability and air filterability even with repeated exposure (up to 10 times). UVGI does sterilize the mask but is inferior to VHP in retaining air filterability.