Face Mask Decontamination Study
Centre of Excellence at Perley Health studies technology to decontaminate and sanitize medical face masks
Home-grown protection against COVID-19 for long-term care residents, staff and first responders
Ottawa's Perley Health has announced a major research study to test revolutionary new Canadian technology to decontaminate and sanitize medical face masks. Sold under the trade name Clean Flow Health Care Mini, the technology has been licensed for the reprocessing of N95 respirators but has not yet been validated for use with the type of procedural masks more widely used in long-term care homes, hospitals and other venues for protection against the COVID-19 virus and other communicable diseases.
“The Ontario government challenged us to find innovative ways to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We think we have found one,” says Perley Health CEO Akos Hoffer. “The Clean Flow Health Care Mini (TM) promises to help us address the critical shortage of personal protective equipment at the same time as we find lasting, cost-effective, home-grown solutions to protect and promote the health and safety of our residents, long-term care staff, first responders, hospital and other essential workers.”
“In times like these, it is wonderful to see not-for-profit long-term care providers taking bold steps to find solutions to benefit the broader sector,” says Lisa Levin, CEO, AdvantAge Ontario. “Perley Health is demonstrating incredible leadership in joining forces with Ontario-based Clean Works to trial their innovative Clean Flow Health Care Mini to sanitize N95 and procedural masks. The brave men and women on the frontlines of health care who are tirelessly battling COVID-19 deserve to know that personal protective equipment is there when they need it. We applaud Perley Health for this valuable contribution to that effort.”
In addition to validating the technology's three-step waterless process with procedural masks, the Centre of Excellence at Perley Health has issued a call for collaboration to researchers in government and elsewhere to establish reprocessing protocols for all types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Already, a research collaboration focusing on N95 respirators has been agreed with CHEO.
Quick Facts:
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The research is being conducted under the direction of the Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care at Perley Health in a specially-equipped, secure clean room on the long-term care home's Ottawa campus. Find our more about the Perley Health.
- Read about the First Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care:
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Research is being supported through donations to Perley Health Veterans' Health Centre Foundation. www.perleyhealthfoundation.ca
- View the April 28 media release (External Link)
Watch the Decontamination Process