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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
High-throughput Detection Method for Influenza Virus
Published on: February 4, 2012
Infrared imaging for leak detection of N95 filtering facepiece respirators: a pilot study
Raymond J Roberge1, William D Monaghan, Andrew J Palmiero
1National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. dtn0@cdc.gov
Background:
This study was undertaken to determine the utility of an infrared camera (IRC) for assessing leaks around filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) during quantitative respirator fit testing.
Methods:
Eight subjects underwent quantitative fit testing on six N95 FFR models (48 total fit tests) while simultaneously being recorded with an IRC.
Results:
The IRC detected 49 exhalation leaks during 39 tests and no leaks in nine tests. Exhalation leaks were identified in all failed fit tests (13) and a majority (26 of 35) of passed tests. Anatomically, the nasal region and malar (cheekbone) regions accounted for 71% of identified leak sites. Fit factors for fit tests without identified exhalation leaks were significantly higher than fit tests with leaks detected by IRC (P = 0.01).
Conclusions:
Thermal imaging using IRC can detect leaks in respiratory protective equipment and has the potential as a screening tool for assessment of the adequacy of post-donning FFR fit.
