Industrial Oven-Maker Testing Dry-Heat Sterilization on PPE and N95 Masks

摘要

To help front-line workers at hospitals, testing clinics and other health-care facilities in their fight against the coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease it causes, Thermal Product Solutions LLC is working with hospitals in the Northeast to test the efficacy of dry-heat sterilization on PPE and N95 masks for reuse.The manufacturer of thermal-processing and sterilizing equipment has already begun testing at research hospitals. Recent tests show positive results in the dry-heat sterilization of masks, face shields, gowns and other personal protective equipment (PPE), with minimal deterioration of the material. During the process, masks were heated to a specified temperature for a calculated period of time that resulted in sterilization of the material. After the sterilization process, fit tests were performed on the masks that passed filtration efficacy, structural integrity and mask fit. TPS is continuing to work with facilities to further confirm test results.