Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 21, 2020

Decontaminating N95 and SN95 Masks with Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) Does Not Impair Mask Efficacy and Safety: A Systematic Review

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  • A systematic review (n=13 studies) found that filtering facepiece respirators maintained certification standards following ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), and that UVGI did not compromise fit. UVGI protocols using a cumulative dose of >40,000 J/m2 resulted in a 3–log reduction in viral load, versus 2–log reduction in viral load for with a cumulative dose >20,000 J/m2. 

Katie et al. (July 13, 2020). Decontaminating N95 and SN95 Masks with Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) Does Not Impair Mask Efficacy and Safety: A Systematic Review. Journal of Hospital Infection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.07.014