Doctors and professors in Virginia produced a trellis rack to hang and sterilize masks with UV-C light for less than $15,000, according to an article on the Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare.
A Virginia health system is now using the system to decontaminate and reuse up to 12,000 N95 masks a day.
The process adheres to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and uses a UV-C light robot the system already had on hand to decontaminate hospital rooms. Other materials were sourced from The Home Depot, Lowe’s and a tractor supply store.
The VCU Health system is offering a free 28-page downloadable instruction manual. The booklet outlines each step in the process, including quality controls with pictures and a video link providing added details.
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