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MacIntyre’s study on fit-tested and non-fit-tested N95 respirators couldn’t find a difference with fit-testing because the rate of fit test failure was extraordinarily low. 5 ⁄ 461 (1%) vs 70% with the mask most commonly used in Vic. @kate_cole_ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00198.x
For example, the BSN Medical Proshield (the default in most hospitals) passed only 25% of the time in the @ASA_Australia fit testing. The Halyard Fluidshield N95 is also very common and only passed 38%!
Some respirator designs are clearly superior, but they are in short supply. 3M 1860 81% pass rate in the ASA data, consistent with other publications. The elastomeric respirators tested by the ASA (Sundstrom and 3M) passed 98% of the time.
At a population level, the effect of an unfitted average Vic N95 mask will provide only a little benefit vs a surgical mask. The mask we have are RUBBISH. If we had excellent masks, then perhaps you could make an argument against fit-testing, but we don’t, so we MUST fit test!
What masks are you getting in NSW @GongGasGirl ? Do we know the D95+ fit test pass rate @scruff888 ?
