NIOSH Tests the Effectiveness of PPE in National Stockpile
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Testing the N95 Stockpile
During a national emergency, demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns and respirators, to protect healthcare workers can outpace the available stock. During the 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, for instance, the United States healthcare system experienced respirator shortages for healthcare workers. To prevent another shortage, large quantities of PPE such as N95 face piece filtering respirators are strategically stockpiled around the country at hospital, local, state and federal facilities.
Key Points
- 3,971 respirators were tested from 10 facilities
- Length of storage ranged from 5-15 years
- 98% met performance standards
Stockpile managers are often unsure of the performance of the respirators in storage as not all manufacturers provide a shelf life for their products, and many products are stored for longer than their published shelf life. To address this issue, in 2017, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted an empirical study on the all stockpiled air-purifying respirators (APR) PPE.
Researchers measured the inhalation/exhalation resistance and filtration performance of N95 filtering facepiece APRs from ten stockpile facilities with varying storage conditions. After documenting the conditions of the storage facility, the researchers measured the performance of the sample respirators and compared them to control respirators purchased from the open market. The age range of the sampled respirators was 5 to 15 years. Of the 3,971 respirators tested, 3,895 respirators met the performance standards, a ninety-eight percent pass rate. All but one of the remaining facilities that did not experience a 100% pass rate were cited as having inadequate facility conditions. One facility seemed to be an outlier, with all respirators meeting performance standards, but a 15-year respirator age (the highest among the tested respirators) and flawed storage conditions. Separate reports for each of the facilities are published on the NIOSH website with further information on the conditions of each facility and the specific respirators tested.
Summary of Results
| Facility Number | Range of APR age | Number of APRs tested | Number of APRs meeting performance standards n, (%) | Facility Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8-11 | 344 | 344 (100%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| 2 | 8-11 | 301 | 301 (100%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| 3 | 8-11 | 258 | 256 (99%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, some moisture damage observed on ceiling |
| 4 | 8-12 | 574 | 540 (94%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| 5 | 8-12 | 602 | 602 (100%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| 6 | 11-12 | 387 | 387 (100%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| 7 | 5-12 | 559 | 519 (92%) | Limited dust and damage, temp controlled, excess moisture persisted beyond immediate mitigation |
| 8 | 9-12 | 344 | 344 (100%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| 9 | 15 | 172 | 172 (100%) | Dust and damage were observed, temp and humidity were not controlled or monitored, no evidence of excess moisture |
| 10 | 12-13 | 430 | 430 (100%) | Limited dust and damage, temp and humidity controlled, no evidence of excess moisture or chemical spills |
| Total | 3,971 | 3,895 (98%) |