N95 - NIOSH - GUIDANCE

The N95 NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) certified respirators have been the gold standard of respiratory protection. The American multinational conglomorate 3M holds the lion share of the market and has been the gold standard for medical and occupational healthcare and safety. The two most common models are the 8210 and the 1860, both of a similar construction and design with the latter being the gold standard surgical mask due to its extensive blood splash testing. The 8210, originally designed as a worker’s safety mask, can also be used in healthcare settings when additional precautions (including first and foremost a face shield) are used.

The Covid-19 crisis has created massive demand for and shortages of the 3M N95 masks leading to a large black market, with price gauging and fraud. This has led to a large demand for any NIOSH N95 products (by being the only N95 products tested by a US recognized authority). The CDC publishes a list of all approved NIOSH respirators online (see link below). However, this list is often dated: some of the models listed are no longer in production; many of the models there are fraudulently counterfeited. The CDC also publishes a very relevant (yet hardly comprehensive) list of counterfeit respirators.

CDC NIOSH approved N95 CDC Counterfeit Respirators

There are several Chinese manufacturers on the CDC NIOSH list. Unfortunately, all of the have raised their prices manyfold in response to the crisis. 3M products are only sold through authorized dealers and 3M has been outspoken against any price gauging by publicly releasing their price list:

3M Fraudulent Activity, Price Gouging, and Counterfeit Products (revised April 8th)

GPD Health is committed to providing solutions for all ppe products and to not in any way be involved in a price gauged market. We help our clients put in orders via authorized distributors and offer non-3M NIOSH products only directly from the manufacturer when the prices are within tolerated levels. We will continue to update our clients and our readers with up to date news and developments.

Millions of Counterfeit Masks Reaching Healthcare workers (5/13/2020)