What is the primary purpose of the Virogard mask?
The mask is designed to be worn to prevent airborne inhalation of contaminants (bacteria & virus) and to catch exhalation of an infected victim, and then actively kill the bacteria or virus. It is designed to kill major cold and flu viruses that are expelled from a cough, sneeze or wet/runny nose

How does it work?
The mask fibers are coated with a polymer that is cured at high temperature. This polymer acts to rupture the negatively or neutrally charged membrane that forms the outer skin of all bacteria, single-celled organisms, fungi and spores. The layers of mask material are additionally treated with a water and oil repellent material.

How quickly does the mask kill micro-organisms?
Antimicrobial testing is conventionally conducted after 30 minutes contact and that also applies to the majority of tests conducted on the Virogard product. No faster reaction can thus be assured, except that additional testing against Human Influenza virus demonstrated a Log 3 reduction within 5 minutes.

Will the mask be effective against "Bird Flu"?
The mask will certainly provide an improved level of respiratory protection, however it is impossible to be certain what form any contagious "Bird Flu" virus may take. There is little point, for example, in testing against H5N1 as evidence to date is that the H5N1 virus does not transmit human-to-human and would need to mutate to do so. The ultimate form of any such mutation is an unknown. We have successfully tested the mask against Type A Human Influenza virus as a broad generic check on virucidal effectiveness.

Does the mask meet national and international standards ?
There are no international Standards for antimicrobial face-masks, nor national ones, that we are aware of. The closest authoritative measure is the internationally accepted "AATTC Test 100-2004: Antibacterial Finishes on Textiles". The Virogard mask meets this Standard.

Is personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for responders involved in disease control?
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada a disposable fit-tested half-face 'N-95' or better respirator is recommended. The Virogard was designed to exceed the N95 Standard for "particulate respirators" established by NIOSH in the USA, but has not yet been formally tested against that standard. The N95 Standard (Australian "P2") does not address antimicrobial properties.

According to CDC and WHO, US NIOSH certified N-95, and European CE certified EN143 P2/ EN 149 FFP2 particulate respirators should be worn by workers who eradicate infected poultry. Disposable gloves, protective clothing, shoe covers or boots, and safety goggles should be used during eradication activities.

Is the mask registered by TGA on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)?
The Virogard mask constitutes protective apparel for personal or occupational use and is not sterilised for use. It is classified as "Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods)" that do not require entry on the ARTG.

Can the mask material cause harm to the wearer if worn for long periods?
No. The mask is specifically designed to be comfortably worn for long periods. It contains no heavy metals, fluoro-chemicals or pesticides and cannot leach or diffuse toxic by-products.

Is the mask effective against chemical and biological warfare agents (e.g., Mustard Gas or Anthrax) or toxic industrial chemicals?
No.

Will a beard affect the mask's effectiveness?
Yes. It is important to ensure as tight a fit around the face as possible. Beards adversely affect achievement of an 'airtight' fit.

Can I re-use the mask?
Yes. Tests on treated fabric washed 20 times in a top-loading washing machine using detergent to Australian Standard AS2001.5.4 showed a very slight diminution in antimicrobial effectiveness (<1.5%) and no diminution from ironing nor rinsing water. There are two layers of fabric to enhance mask effectiveness, but we recommend hand washing in only warm soapy water after each occasion of use. If there are clear indications that the mask has been exposed to a contagious agent, however, we recommend disposal immediately after use.

Is the mask available in a size suitable for children?
Development of a mask suited to children 6 months to 6 years of age is almost complete.

Will the mask stop me getting infected by a virus or bacterial infection?
No such certainty can be suggested and the source of an infection may not be respiratory. The Virogard mask does, however, provide an improved level of protection against respiratory infection. It may help reduce exposures to airborne biological contaminants, but it doesnÕt eliminate the risk of exposure, infection, illness or death.

Is the mask effective against bacteria and viruses other than those listed?
Possibly, but in the absence of additional independent testing we cannot be assured that is so. There are possibly millions of variants of bacteria and viruses that can cause illness in humans. It is impractical to test against all of those and each individual test is both time consuming and expensive. Virogard testing has been focussed on the more common concerns and additional testing will be undertaken as the need arises.

Has the Virogard mask been tested against tuberculosis?
We are planning on full trials with TB in 2008. Internationally, we are getting inquiries that are making a strong case to complete testing at the earliest opportunity. The concern focuses on the existence of XDR (extreme-drug resistant) TB for which there is no known cure. Note that even in North America, 4% of TB cases are now XDR.

The new 'Plus' version of Virogard is presently undergoing testing at the Australian national testing institution. NIOSH do have some 'Plus' versions for a trial but not for formal testing. We are hoping that our Virogard Plus version will have met all the requirements for N-95 certification by the end of this year. One might note however that the 'Plus' version would likely be for seriously heavy-duty scenarios (eg: infectious/isolation wards as with TB) rather than for more general use for which the Standard is quite suitable.

What other measures should I take to reduct the prospects of infection?
Frequent and thorough hand washing is strongly recommended.

What is the shelf life of the Virogard mask in its original packaging?
Shelf life is generally regarded as a minimum of five (5) years in the original packaging stored in a dry, cool environment.

Do you have any literature available?
Yes, you can view and download the Virogard brochure and Technical Summary on the Documents page.