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Jan 15, 2022 · In its new guidance, the CDC notes that N95s and other respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are the most protective options. By contrast,...
- Overview
- How we picked the best N95 masks
- The best N95 masks to purchase
- How to buy N95 masks
- Meet our experts
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If you're concerned about spiking COVID cases, restocking your supply of face masks (and at-home COVID tests) might be a top priority. For the highest level of protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing properly fitted respirators, including N95s approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
To learn more about N95 masks, we consulted medical experts about who should use them, when to wear them and how they're different from KN95 masks and other disposable face coverings. We also compiled highly rated N95 masks that are approved for use by NIOSH and available online. (Note that most people use “mask” and “respirator” interchangeably, but when the CDC and medical professionals say “respirator,” they specifically mean fitted face coverings with certified filtration, like N95s, KN95s and KF94s).
SKIP AHEAD The best N95 respirators to shop | How to shop for N95 masks
•Cup-shaped N95 masks
3M Aura N95 Respirator
$5.49
While shopping for N95 masks, experts recommend keeping the following in mind:
•NIOSH approval: You should only purchase N95s listed on NIOSH’s list of approved models — they’ve undergone specific testing to meet NIOSH’s performance and quality requirements, which includes making sure they filter out at least 95% of very small particles (0.3 microns in size).
•Appropriate markings: Specific markings on an N95 mask indicate that it’s NIOSH-approved. These markings include identifying information verified using NIOSH’s Certified Equipment List, filter designations, model numbers and more.
•Features: N95 masks should have two straps that go around your head and an adjustable wire nose bridge. These features help ensure that the mask fits tightly against your face, experts told us.
There are dozens of N95s on NIOSH’s list of approved models, but some of them are surgical N95s, which should be reserved for medical workers, according to the CDC. After filtering those out, we chose the models below, each of which are available to shop online and meet NIOSH requirements, as well as expert-recommended criteria. Some N95s come pack...
Buying N95s is simpler than buying international respirators like KN95s or KF94s because they're regulated in the U.S. by NIOSH, says Dr. David Rempel, a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
When NIOSH gives an N95 its stamp of approval, it means “the respirator has met very specific requirements for testing. It is a quality assurance indicator that the respirator will perform as expected,” says Dr. Stella Hines, an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Medical experts told us that all N95s — whether they come in cup, flat fold or duckbill shapes — should have the following features:
•Appropriate markings printed on the respirator indicating that it’s NIOSH-approved
•Two straps that go around the head, which experts say are used instead of ear loops on all N95 models to create a tighter seal against the face
•An adjustable wire nose bridge
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
•Dr. David Rempel is a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He is also a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he started its ergonomics program.
Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at NBC Select who has covered face masks since 2020. She's written about disposable masks, KN95 masks, N95 masks and KN95 masks for kids, in addition to at-home Covid tests and vaccine card holders. For this article, Malin spoke to two experts about how to shop for N95 masks.
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Jan 18, 2022 · Currently, the CDC recommends that healthcare workers only reuse N95 masks up to five times before replacing them. Some experts suggest keeping a few N95 masks in rotation.
Jan 15, 2022 · Counterfeit N95 masks are everywhere. Here's how to spot them. 04:42 - Source: CNN. CNN — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its mask guidelines to recommend that...
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Feb 10, 2022 · The use of face masks or respirators (N95/KN95) is recommended to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (1). Well-fitting face masks and respirators effectively filter virus-sized particles in laboratory conditions ( 2 , 3 ), though few studies have assessed their real-world effectiveness in preventing acquisition of ...
N95 respirators must form a seal to the face to work properly. This is especially important for people at increased risk for severe disease. Wearing an N95 respirator can make it harder to breathe.
Use NIOSH Approved alternatives to N95 respirators where feasible. These include other classes of filtering facepiece respirators, elastomeric half-mask and full facepiece air-purifying respirators, and powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs).
