These names correspond to the performance standards they have to meet in the country they're manufactured or sold in: FFP2 in the UK and Europe, N95 in the US and Canada, and KN95 in China. Claire Horwell, professor of geohealth at Durham University, was researching the effectiveness of face masks before most of us gave them any thought - studying the health hazards of airborne volcanic ash. We repeated the filtration tests after the masks had been through the wash five times, and gave equal weighting to the pre and post-wash filtration score.

Ultimately, glasses and masks don't mix - so none of the options are a magic solution for spectacle-wearers. But some are much better than others. We also aimed to cover a range of prices, widely available products in high street retailers, and some high-profile online-only brands. Why test reusable masks? Some types of RPE give an independent supply of breathable air, for example fresh-air hose, compressed airline and self-contained breathing apparatus.

Seven masks (results listed in the table above) failed our tests. We shared our results with the manufacturers or retailers, and these were their responses. Some scientists and doctors have also suggested this might be a sensible measure for some higher-risk scenarios, now that we have increased understanding of the importance of aerosol transmission. Things can get pretty technical when it comes to the science behind respiratory protection. How do respirators work exactly, anyway? We break it down for you in a new fact sheet, Understanding Filtration Efficiency Testing and Fit Testing in Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs) , which explains how filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) capture particles (like dust, dirt, and bacteria) and the NIOSH testing process that ensures they are capturing particles with utmost efficiency.

For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. If you’d like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. There's some concern that the electrostatic layer within disposable masks could degrade over time, and that bacteria could be present on the mask, depending on use and storage. Looking for a disposable face mask or respirator? See our disposable face masks buying guide. Don't Buy face coverings - what the companies say Masks are marked down for poor breathability, as this can create a build-up of moisture which then affects filtration (see How We Test, below the table).Some reusable options incorporate antimicrobial coatings, but the safety of these is also up for debate. Most countries that require a Covid test will accept a PCR test, which will need to be done by a private provider.

Professor Horwell suggests having a few masks on rotation, rather than simply reusing the same mask over and over. This allows you to air them out in between uses. With an increasing number of businesses currently exploiting the market in a time of crisis by profiteering from PPE sales, it is hard for the public to know who they can trust when sourcing low cost and reliable PPE. Certain businesses have been inflating prices by over 1,000% with other businesses importing illegitimate PPE from suppliers in Asia using fake and invalid certificates. The purpose of the scheme is to support the government’s COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 strategy during a challenging period of global inflation and cost of living pressures. As the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to circulate, some people may be looking to PPE-grade face masks, such as FFP2 respirators, to protect themselves. Mask manufacturer 3M has done a technical comparison of the different types, and concluded that it's reasonable to consider them as similar in practice - a view that is echoed by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).The NIPCM has been adapted for use within England to support and facilitate healthcare providers to demonstrate compliance with the 10 criteria of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. Interestingly, filtration efficiency improved after five washes for half of the face coverings we tested, likely to be caused by fibres compressing during the wash. Again, all the products passed this test. Any shrinkage was minimal and not enough to affect the fit. Ease of use The PPE portal will serve a range of health, care and public sector providers including GPs, adult social care, dentists, orthodontists, community pharmacies, optometrists, children’s social care providers, drug and alcohol services, other government departments, local authorities, independent sector providers who carry out NHS work, and more. This will cover millions of staff, patients, clients and service users, in England.