Factors affecting the fit of respirators in the biosafety level 3 laboratory / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To test the performance of two kinds of protective respirators (3M9332, 3M1860) used in Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory (BSL-3) to ensure whether it can fit well in different populations in order to reduce the risk of infection in the process of operating high-risk pathogenic microorganisms.@*Methods@#Using a 8038PortaCount®Pro+ respirator fit tester to examine the fitness of personnel wear 3M 1860 N95 and 9332 N99 respirators. The influence factors such as gender, age, shape of respirator were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by the fit factor(FF) of assigned actions.@*Results@#A total of 62 people conducted the respirator fit test, of which 45 people passed the test of 3M9332 respirators, the pass rate was 72.58%; only 6 people passed the test of 3M1860 respirators, the pass rate was 9.67%. The pass rate of two different types of respirators was analyzed statistically, P=0.000. The P value of assigned actions in deep breathing, head side to side, head up and down, talking, bending over were respectively 0.094, 0.076, 0.542, 0.000, 0.000.@*Conclusions@#The experimental results showed that the type of respirator had a significant effect on respirator fit in this study, but gender and age had no significant effect on factors. As to reduce the risk of leakage of the respirator, redundant actions should try to be avoided, especially loud talking and bending in the course of the experiment.