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Measuring breathability and bacterial filtration efficiency of face masks in the pandemic context: A round robin study with proficiency testing among non-accredited laboratories

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 189; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.measurement.2021.110481

1873-412X

Francesco Tessarolo, Giandomenico Nollo, L. Benedetti, Fabrizia Helfer, Luigi Rovati, Alberto Ferrari, Giulio Marchetti, Federico Reverberi, Salvo Baglio, Nunzio Tuccitto, Stefania Stefani, Stefano Stracquadanio, Filippo Caraci, A. Terrasi, A. Tricomi, M. Musumeci, A. Miraglia, G. Cuttone, Sofia Cosentino, Luca A. Vitali, Dezemona Petrelli, Sonia Ilaria Ciancia, Marina Mingoia, Paolo Castellini, Serena Simoni, Luigi Montalto, Alessia Baleani, Paolo Chiariotti, Nicola Paone,

Infection Control in Healthcare

Six Italian non-accredited laboratories participated to an interlaboratory study aimed at measuring Differential Pressure (DP) and Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of three face-mask models using methods in-line with EN 14683 standard. Methodological non-conformities were annotated. Repeatability and reproducibility on quintuplicate samples were calculated according to ISO 5725-2. Sample stability was also assessed. Laboratories were ranked according to the total standard deviation over all samples and proficiency was evaluated using z-score according to ISO 13528. Although some non-conformities were present, performances for the DP measurements were always acceptable. One laboratory had to revise the bacterial suspension preparation for the BFE test. Overall, non-accredited laboratories working during pandemic emergency performed satisfactorily. Sample-to-sample variability impacted measurement repeatability. BFE values above 98% showed good repeatability (≤1.0%) and reproducibility (≤6.1%), but high BFE uncertainty was associated to community masks. Our findings suggest that relevant face-mask conformity standards should consider uncertainty of BFE and DP measurements.