A pilot study on the use of geometrically accurate face models to replicate ex vivo N95 mask fit

To test the feasibility of replicating a face mask seal in vitro, we created 5 geometrically accurate reconstructions of the head and neck of an adult human subject using different materials. Three breathing patterns were simulated with each replica and an attached N95 mask. Quantitative fit testing on the subject and the replicas showed that none of the 5 isotropic materials used allowed duplication of the ex vivo mask seal for the specific mask-face combination studied. Copyright (C) 2013 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.