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

Abstract

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-high-Efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, four-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.