COVID-19 Evaluation Background: UV Solutions for Contingency and Crisis Decontamination of N95 Respirators

June 8, 2020 | Evaluations & Guidance

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Here's background on ultraviolet (UV) solutions for contingency and crisis decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators**(FFRs), outlining the key considerations for making wise purchasing decisions. Learn how the technology is used, which specs are important, and what factors we test for. Also review our latest product ratings.

In response to the continuing shortages of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a number of new and sometimes unproven UV decontamination solutions have been proposed to reduce the risk of self-inoculation or cross-contamination associated with reuse of PPE. To help healthcare providers make informed decisions about these devices, ECRI is evaluating them. These COVID-19 Evaluations differ from our normal Evaluations in the following key ways:

  1. Our test criteria, findings, and ratings are specific to the current crisis and may not apply under more normal circumstances, or as the pandemic evolves.

  2. Our Evaluation testing and analysis are conducted rapidly in order to disseminate the information as quickly as possible, and thus our findings may not be as conclusive as they are in our standard Evaluations.

UV solutions for contingency and crisis decontamination of N95 FFRs use an ultraviolet-C (UVC) light source to rapidly decontaminate multiple N95s. These products frequently are new to market, or are existing products...

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