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How to Spot a Fake Counterfeit N95 Respirator Mask

 

With the pandemic, sadly one of the things we have to now contend with, are checking for counterfeits. We get a lot of folks inquiring how we tell if the N95 Masks we get from our suppliers are legitimate or not — and how we can tell.

Luckily, it's fairly easy:

With the 3M brand N95 masks we get (8210, 8200, 8210V, 1860), we either order them directly from 3M, or from a reputable supplier that we have had accounts with for years. Additionally however, we also match the LOT # with the security code found on the bottom of each box. To date, we have not received any counterfeit masks from any of our suppliers!

Want to learn more about how you can proactively spot fake, counterfeit N95 masks? Read on...

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Counterfeit respirators are products that are falsely marketed and sold as being NIOSH-approved and may not be capable of providing appropriate respiratory protection to workers,” according to the CDC. “When NIOSH becomes aware of counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting NIOSH approval on the market, we will post them on the CDC website to alert users, purchasers, and manufacturers."

Ways to spot a fake N95 respirator mask include:

    • No NIOSH markings
    • NIOSH spelled incorrectly
    • No approval (TC) number on filtering facepiece respirator or headband
    • Presence of decorative fabrics or add-ons, such as sequins
    • Facepiece has ear loops instead of headbands
    • Claims that it’s approved for children (NIOSH doesn’t approve any type of respiratory protection for children)



Example of Counterfeit N95 Respirator Mask:
Example of Counterfeit N95 Respirator Mask


Example of Counterfeit N95 Respirator Mask:
Example of Counterfeit N95 Respirator Mask



Learn More at the CDC Website