OUR SERVICES:
We are certified mask fit test providers in Ontario. We provide mask fit testing for health care and other professionals with certain type of workers for their needs.
There are two methods we use for testing.
Qualitative Mask Fit Testing Method :
- First we educate the client how to don and doff the mask correctly and do the seal check properly.
- In this method a challenge agent aerosol is sprayed to the client’s mouth under a confined hood to determine the level of response to the challenge agent.
- Once the client is properly don the mask and do the seal check, we spray the challenge agent as a series of sprays to determine whether the client detect the bitter or sweet taste of the challenging agent.
- The client is required to perform a series of head and body motions typical of normal daily movement.
- If the challenge agent is undetected by the client respirator seal is considered adequate and the test is considered successful.
The challenging agents we use are called Bittrex or Saccharin. They are safe artificial sweetening agents.
Quantitative Mask Fit Testing Method:
We use this method only when we have a group of more than 20 people for testing as it an highly expensive method.
- First we educate the client how to don and doff the mask correctly and do the seal check properly. In addition, we explain how to clean and store the mask if they are reusable models.
- In this method ambient airborne particles are used as the challenge agent which are electronically measured both inside and outside the respirator by an precise particle counting instrument.
- When the client properly don the mask and do the seal check we connect the mask with the machine. The machine counts the samples of particles inside and outside the mask or the respirator simultaneously determining a ratio. If this ratio is above the minimum test limit a high enough fit factor has been achieved after completing a series of test similar to the QLFT protocol, client has passed the fit test.
