“We have a contingency plan in the event of a shortage of N95 masks. In case of exhaustion of stocks in a certain size, the use of expired N95 is recommended after verification,”… MUHC

Manuel’s Blog has learned the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is distributing to its personnel N95 masks with expiration dates according to the employer between October 2019 and December 2019.

Healthcare workers who respond to the increase in COVID-19 cases face a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially the specialized N95 face masks used to protect medical personnel from infection while working with patients.

Manuel’s Blog (MB) contacted the MUHC, after various workers, who requested not to be identified for fear of reprisals, became concerned when they witnessed the distribution of the expired masks.

Workers at the Montreal General Hospital emergency department said they saw boxes of 2011 expired masks in the unit. An expiry date that contradicts the official MUHC statement, “These masks date from October 2019 and December 2019.”

One employee said she witnessed an assistant nurse in-charge removing the best before date from a box of expired N95 masks after the staff began raising concerns about receiving respirators which exceeded their manufacturer-designated shelf life.

According to other workers expired N95 masks were also distributed at the 9th floor of the MGH, Intensive Care Unit.

In an email statement to Manuel’s Blog, the MUHC confirmed the use of expired N95 masks as a contingency plan in the event of a shortage of N95 masks. Except in the operating room and during sterilization procedures.

The medical centre said the hospital was following the recommendations and guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC). Release of Stockpiled N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Beyond the Manufacturer-Designated Shelf Life: Considerations for the COVID-19 Response.

“We have a contingency plan in the event of a shortage of N95 masks. In case of exhaustion of stocks in a certain size, the use of expired N95 is recommended after verification of the elastic, the integrity of the mask and a fit check, except in the operating room or for sterile procedures, where the use of expired N95 is not indicated,” MUHC spokesperson.

A young healthcare worker at the MGH, is concerned about the integrity of the expired masks after hearing about respirators in the ICU, “undoing themselves while in positive covid’s patients’ room.”

According to the CDC over time, the straps of the respirators which are made from a plastic and rubber polymer, can expand or contract when exposed to heat or cold and wear out. This can affect the fit of the mask and prevent proper sealing.

Following a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluation of N95 respirators manufactured between 2003 and 2013, CDC approved the use of the models of expired N95 masks tested in the study.

“In times of increased demand and decreased supply, consideration can be made to use the N95s listed above past their manufacturer-designated shelf life when responding to COVID-19,” CDC website.

However, the CDC clarifies that “Firm conclusions cannot be drawn for stockpiled N95 models beyond those tested in this study,” and “N95s that are past their manufacturer-designated shelf life are no longer considered NIOSH-approved, as all manufacturer-designated conditions of use must be met to maintain the NIOSH approval.”

CDC recommends that N95s that have exceeded their manufacturer-designated shelf life should be used only as outlined in the Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators.

Models of N95 masks tested in the NIOSH study

• 3M 1860
• 3M 1870
• 3M 8210
• 3M 9010
• 3M 8000
• Gerson 1730
• Medline/Alpha Protech NON27501
• Moldex 1512
• Moldex 2201