Trial aims to disinfect and reuse PPE
The Taranaki District Health Board is taking part in a trial that would enable personal protective equipment to be disinfected and reused.
The trial, led by researchers from the University of Auckland (UOA) and the University of Otago, received $1.3 million funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Covid-19 Innovation Acceleration Fund and $46,000 from the Medical Assurance Society foundation.
Lead researcher Dr Yvonne Anderson from UOA’s medical school, and a Taranaki-based paediatrician, said the project could potentially protect frontline workers in hospitals.
It may also address the ‘‘river’’ of personal protective equipment (PPE) going to disposal, she said. ‘‘By conserving PPE and creating safe disinfection solutions, we create an insurance policy against running short of this essential equipment in the future, and may also stem what is proving to be a major problem for the environment.’’
The team will trial the process, which uses a combination of storage, heat and ultraviolet light, on gowns, surgical masks, N95 masks, face shields and eye wear.
Professor Miguel Quin˜ ones-Mateu, of the University of Otago, and his team will begin testing with actual Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2) virus in the next two weeks in a highly contained laboratory at the university.
They hope to produce some baseline results within 12 weeks of starting.
Anderson said they would then look to develop a solution that could go anywhere in the world. Initial estimates show the disinfection protocol could increase the available supply of N95 face masks alone by 400 per cent.
The project came about during covid prep when it became clear there was going to be a shortage of PPE.
‘‘We started to look at ways we could sure up the supplier for the frontline and part of that was looking at whether we could disinfect PPE for potential reuse.’’
Justine Gilliland, chief executive of Venture Taranaki, the region’s economic development agency, said she was thrilled to see the research developing.
‘‘Their ability to pivot in the face of a global pandemic is to be commended. It’s fantastic to see Taranaki playing host to this innovation, and we commend the research team and Yvonne for their work and dedication to undertaking this very important health and safety focused innovation.’’