What’s the difference between face masks?

Back in 2019 few imagined what 2020 would bring.  Fewer yet could predict the position face masks and face coverings would play in the politics and prevention of the Covid 19 pandemic.

After a considerable dearth in availability, supply of face masks are slowly returning to the market place. Global demand however remains high, resulting in an overall global shortage.

New to us, perhaps, but face masks date back to the 17^th century plague, and the more familiar ‘hospital surgical mask’ rapidly approaches its centenary.

So what is 3ply mask?

3 ply essentially means 3 layers. A 3 ply mask consists of an outer and inner non-woven fabric layer with a middle filtration layer made from a polypropylene polymer, typically referred to in the industry ‘melt-down’. The meltdown layer prevents microbes from entering or exiting the mask, and it is the global shortage of this material which has resulted in higher costs of production and higher onward costs in the industry.

Are all 3 ply masks the same?

Whilst the principle of a 3ply mask is the same – to prevent the entrance and exit of microbes, some do this more efficiently than other.Any commercially available mask should have undergone testing (by sample selection) to determine how well in filters, how it copes under physical pressure, the degree to which blood penetrates and a microbial cleanliness test.

For the purpose of comparison, a key differentiator between the performance of masks we stock at MediBargains is how well the masks filters.

Below is a table of the various testing standards used and how well the masks perform.

There are other masks available but these are the types we have decided to offer to provide a range of protection based on need.These are just our recommendations and this does not constitute medical advice.

Please contact us on sales@medibargains.co.uk to further discuss your requirement and stock needs.