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.
Contaminants Under Foot: A Closer Look at Patient Room Floors
Power Outages Largely Driven by Extreme Weather Events
Nemours Children's Health Opens New Moseley Foundation Institute Hospital
Code Compliance Isn't Enough for Healthcare Resilience
Ribbon Cutting Marks First Phase Completion for New Montefiore Einstein Facility