Procedures for a N95 Fit Test

The N95 is a respirator used to prevent infection via airborne diseases such as tuberculosis. Fit testing is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure the respirator is working properly.

Preparation

• The respirator is prepared by attaching drawstrings and securing them to the face mask, then knotting them. A small amount of the fit test solution is poured into a nebulizer. Additionally, the subject will wear a test hood made of a impermeable plastic.

Fit Test

• To perform the fit test, the user checks the seal of the respirator according to package instructions and dons any safety equipment he normally would wear during work. The fit test aerosol is then introduced to the test hood, and the subject performs a variety of tasks. If any of the testing aerosol is detected by the subject throughout the task, this indicates an inadequate fit, and the respirator needs to be readjusted.

Cleaning

• Every four hours, or at the end of the test, the testing solutions should be discarded, the nebulizers rinsed and the test hood cleaned with a cloth to remove any residual solution.