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Making sure your mask fits
Do you want to try your KN95 mask? All you need is a home aroma diffuser, widely available starting at R200, and a large freezer bag.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the UK used the elements to develop an inexpensive and reliable method to evaluate the fit of masks that are designed to seal, such as the N95, KN95, FFP2 and FFP3.
They said that commercial test kits are not only expensive but have been in short supply during Covid-19, forcing many healthcare institutions to abandon regular fit testing for staff.
The new method uses cheaper versions of the device in commercial kits: a test solution, a diffuser to spray it and a hood.
In a typical fit test, a user places the hood over their head while wearing a mask, and the solution, usually sweet or sour, is sprayed into the cabinet as a fine mist.
The fit of the mask is evaluated by how well the user can taste the solution while nodding or speaking.
In the replacement device, the combination of an aroma diffuser and a freezer bag gives results comparable to commercial solutions.
“Our home replacement requires further testing of safety and efficacy: in particular, the use of a plastic bag to concentrate the vapor remains a safety concern,” said Eugenia O’Kelly from the engineering department at the University of Cambridge, 1st author of a study published in the journal Disaster Medicine & Public Health Preparedness.
“We were pleased to find an inexpensive setting to evaluate the fit of masks. Given the importance of masks in slowing the spread of Covid-19 and other airborne viruses, it is essential that they fit correctly, especially in healthcare settings. . “
– Dave Chambers
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