以醫療用霧化器執行呼吸防護具定性密合度測試之可行性探討

A Study on the Feasibility of Conducting Qualitative Fit Test by Using Pneumatic Medical Nebulizers

密合度測試對於緊密接合式呼吸防護具效能的確保具有關鍵的影響，雖然這個概念已被廣泛地認知，但是在實務上卻經常會以不易取得、價錢高、與執行時間長等因素做為不執行的藉口。因此，較簡便的密合度測試方法會提升執行呼吸防護具密合度測試的意願。本研究中，分別量測目前市售定性密合度測試用霧化器（3M FT-10與TSI Q-Fit）以及氣動式醫療用霧化器所產生微粒的粒徑分布，然後再套入一個已知微粒穿透率的過濾面體口罩與洩漏孔洞組合，藉此計算利用各個霧化器所獲得的密合係數值。結果顯示，成本較低的醫療用霧化器是可以取代3M FT-10與TSI Q-Fit以執行定性密合度測試。

Although it has been widely recognized that fit testing is a critical requirement for ensuring the efficacy of tight fitting respirators, it may not always be complied with for various reasons, including availability, cost and time. Therefore, a less burdensome fit test method for respirators may help increase compliance. In this study, the particle size distributions generated by commercially available aerosol nebulizers (3M FT-10 and TSI Q-Fit) for qualitative fit test and pneumatic medical nebulizers were explored, respectively. Then, a combination of a filtering facepiece and a controlled leakage was used to calculate the fit factors according to the particle size distributions and defined aerosol penetration data. The result showed that inexpensive pneumatic medical nebulizers could be substitutions for the 3M FT-10 and the TSI Q-Fit aerosol generators.