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Jan 18, 2024 · Best made-in-America KN95 for kids. Armbrust USA-Made Kids KN95 Mask. $50 for 20. Produced in the U.S. with American-made materials, these five-layer KN95 masks for kids feature a melt-blown ...
Nov 4, 2023 · KN95 masks. A KN95 mask is a type of respirator that meets certain international standards. It offers more protection than a medical mask does because it filters out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales. But be cautious when buying a KN95. Some may not meet the quality standards, so consider researching the source carefully.
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You may find yourself reaching for a face mask if COVID cases are currently spiking in your area. But which type offers the most protection? According to the CDC, properly fitted respirators do, including KN95 masks and N95 masks. (Most people use “mask” and “respirator” interchangeably, but when the CDC and medical professionals say “respirator,” they specifically mean specialized, fitted face coverings like N95s, KN95s and KF94s.)
In their guide to masks and respirators, the CDC further prioritizes respirators above masks — with emphasis on a proper fit — and specifies that they’re better than cloth products. Here, a cheat sheet of the different levels of protection offered by different masks and respirators:
1.Highest level of protection: Well-fitting respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), including N95s
2.Less protection than NIOSH-approved respirators: Well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s
3.Less protection than non-NIOSH respirators and surgical masks: Layered, finely woven products
4.Least protection (but still better than not wearing a mask at all): Loosely woven cloth products
While shopping for KN95 masks, experts recommend keeping the following in mind:
•Filtration level: KN95 masks must filter out at least 95% of particulates, experts tell us. For all of the masks we recommend, we obtained associated lab tests regarding filtration. We got documentation from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory or had brands send us documentation directly.
•Construction: The KN95 masks you buy should have ear loops and be comprised of at least five layers.
•Brand transparency: Brand transparency is key when buying any type of face mask, but it's especially relevant for KN95 masks, which aren’t regulated the way N95 masks are. Despite not being regulated, there are ways for brands and manufacturers to increase their trustworthiness, like FDA registration or inclusion in the FDA’s now-defunct emergency use authorization (EUA), which it passed in 2020 to help medical workers choose KN95 masks.
Each of the following masks have features that align with expert guidance and our research: Five or more layers, 95% filtration (or above) and ear loops. We bought and tried on all of the face masks we recommend to ensure their packaging, features and fit align with what experts tell us to expect.
Additionally, all of the masks we recommend come from manufacturers registered with the FDA — while this has nothing to do with regulating mask quality, it increases accountability for the brand selling it, experts tell us. Some of the masks we recommend also appeared on the FDA’s EUA — we note which ones.
While the CDC doesn’t provide specific regulations to follow when choosing a KN95 mask, they do offer a list tips to help you spot masks that may not meet the necessary standards.
It’s difficult, sometimes impossible, to be sure you’re buying a real KN95 mask just by looking at it, says Dr. Jeremy Friese, a former Mayo Clinic physician and the former president of the payer market at Olive, an Ohio-based company that integrates artificial intelligence into health care.
Experts we interviewed recommend you review your masks after receiving them and before wearing them with the following in mind:
•A KN95 mask should not be damaged in any way
•Packaging should never include false claims or logos from the FDA. The FDA does not permit their logo to appear on packaging of any sort
•KN95 masks shouldn’t cost more than $3 apiece, according to the CDC
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. Nina Shapiro is a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist at Westside Head and Neck in California. She is the author of “HYPE: A Doctor’s Guide To Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims and Bad Advice,” as well as a children’s book, “The Ultimate Kids’ Guide To Being Super Healthy.” Shapiro was also the director of pediatric otolaryngology and a professor of head and neck surgery at David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles for 25 years.
•Dr. Jeremy Friese is a former Mayo Clinic physician. He is also the former president of the payer market at Olive, an Ohio-based company that integrates artificial intelligence into health care.
•Anne Miller is the executive director of Project N95, a nonprofit that helps people source personal protective equipment and medical supplies.
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 three experts about how to shop for KN95 masks and tried every mask she recommended in the article.
CORRECTION (Aug. 26, 2021, 5:45 p.m.): A previous version of this article incorrectly included some face mask manufacturers on the FDA’s EUA list. Manufacturers for masks from Evolvetogether, Hope Health and Well Before are not on the list, but are only registered with the FDA. We’ve kept them on the list because they meet guidance from medical experts.
UPDATE (Aug. 26, 2021, 5:45 p.m.): A previous version of this article included the VIDA KN95 face mask. We’ve removed it from the list because the brand is shipping M95 face masks for some orders of KN95 face masks given "global shortages," according to its site.
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Sep 3, 2023 · Bona Fide Masks White Powecom KN95 Mask (10 Count) for $12. Bona Fide Masks. The White Powecom masks come with a multi-filtration system and an adjustable metal nosepiece. You can also choose ...
Aug 9, 2023 · These are the best KN95 and surgical masks for protection against new COVID-19 strains and other respiratory viruses based on expert doctors' opinions and recommendations.
Jan 15, 2022 · Masks produced after July 1, 2021, bear the standard number GB2626-2019; masks produced before that date have the standard number GB2626-2006. If your KN95 is missing those things, she says that ...
Jan 28, 2022 · KF94. Kyungin Flax KF94 Sarah Kobos/Wirecutter. The KF94 is a high-quality mask that folds flat and is made in Korea. It is designed specifically for the consumer market. The KF stands for ...
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