Duke Starts Innovative Decontamination of N95 Masks to Help Relieve Shortages
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Science & Technology
- Published
31st Mar, 2020
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- Facing a critical shortage of N95 face masks that block the coronavirus, Duke Health research and clinical teams have confirmed a way to use existing vaporized hydrogen peroxide methods to decontaminate the masks so they can be reused.
- The process uses specialized equipment to vaporize hydrogen peroxide, which permeates the layers of the mask to kills germs, including viruses, without degrading the mask material.
- The use of hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate N95 masks was tested and published by others in 2016, but did not result in widespread adaptation.
- The earlier studies did not include fit testing after cleaning – basically sizing the masks for individual wearers – to prove efficacy in the real world, which Duke has now done.
- The decontamination process requires specialized equipment that vaporizes the hydrogen peroxide, and a closed facility where the masks can be exposed to the vapor. No toxic byproducts result, because hydrogen peroxide breaks down to water.
