As stocks run low, researchers investigate ways to extend the life of N95 respirators

N95 respirators protect healthcare workers from airborne infectious agents. Manufacturers design them for single use, and stocks are running low. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tested ways to decontaminate single-use N95 respirators so that people could reuse them.

As global supplies of personal protective equipment run short, scientists are looking for ways to make stocks last longer. The study, which is yet to be published in a peer reviewed journal, tested four commonly used decontamination methods: UV light, 70% ethanol, temperature treatment at 70ºC (158ºF), and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP).

They investigated which methods inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and, importantly, assessed how each method impacted the functioning of the masks, which need to maintain a proper fit and tight seal around the face.

The authors conclude that people could reuse UV and heat treated respirators twice and those treated with VHP three times. Because VHP decontamination only takes 10 minutes, the authors believe that this might be the most viable option.