Coronavirus outbreak: Accredited laboratories for face masks testing

News 26 March 2020

According the World Health Organization (WHO) masks should be used:

If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with
suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection,
If you are coughing or sneezing.

Masks may help also people avoid touching their faces.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, there is a huge demand for masks and it is important to ensure that appropriate masks ensuring adequate protection are swiftly made available to those who need it most. But the masks shall be tested in order to ensure that the essential requirements are met. The specific requirements are set out in the following European Standards:

EN 14683:2019 Medical face masks – Requirements and test methods- This standard specifies construction, design, performance requirements and test methods for medical face masks intended to limit the transmission of infective agents from staff to patients during surgical procedures and other medical settings with similar requirements. A medical face mask with an appropriate microbial barrier can also be effective in reducing the emission of infective agents from the nose and mouth of an asymptomatic carrier or a patient with clinical symptoms. This European Standard is not applicable to masks intended exclusively for the personal protection of staff.

EN 149:2001 + A1:2009 Respiratory protective devices – Filtering half masks to protect against particles – Requirements, testing, marking This European Standard specifies minimum requirements for filtering half masks as respiratory protective devices to protect against particles except for escape purposes. Laboratory and practical performance tests are included for the assessment of compliance with the requirements.

You find further information from the EU Commission on conformity assessment and market surveillance procedures within the context of the COVID-19 threat under https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.LI.2020.079.01.0001.01.ENG.

Tests of masks are performed by laboratories. Below you find a list of laboratories, which are accredited for the scope EN 14683 and/or EN 149. For further information regarding an accredited laboratory, please contact the relevant National Accreditation Body (NAB) or the laboratory directly. You find the contact details to the NABs on EA’s website https://european-accreditation.org/eamembers/directory-of-ea-members-and-mla-signatories/.

NAB (Country)

Accredited Laboratory

EN 14683

EN 149

AA (Austria)

Hygcen GmbH Werksgelände 28 5500 Bischofshofen P: 0043 6462 5319 www.hygcen.at

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The laboratory is not yet accredited, but the assessment by AA has taken place and the process shall be concluded April 2020.

ACCREDIA (Italy)

EUROFINS BIOLAB S.r.l. Via Bruno Buozzi 2 20090 – Vimodrone (MI) P: 02 250 7151 www.biolab.it Accreditation ref. n. 0032

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

LAB-CONTROL S.R.L Via Ca’ Dona’ 545 45030 – San Martino di Venezze (RO) P: 0425 176115 info@lab-control.it www.lab-control.it Accreditation ref. n. 0228

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

BIOCHEM S.R.L. Via Benini, 13 40069 Zola Predosa (BO) P: 051 755295 info@biochem-bcm.com www.biochem-bcm.com Accreditation ref. n. 0283

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden

ACCREDIA (Italy)

TECNAL SrL. Via Castelfranco 17/D Loc. Bazzano 40053 – Valsamoggia (BO) Tel. 051 832915 www.tecnal.it laboratorio@tecnal.it Accreditation ref. n. 0299

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

AGROLABambiente SrL Via Pratovecchio 327 51015 – Monsummano Terme (PT) P: 0572 520145 www.ambientesc.it home@ambientesc.it Accreditation ref. n. 0510F

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

ECOPOINT SrL Via Cavour 435 67051 – AVEZZANO (AQ) P: 0572 520145 info@ecopointsrl.it www.ecopointsrl.it Accreditation ref. n. 0696

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

Studio di microbiologia ed ecologia SrL Via delle Anime 87 73100 – Lecce (LE) P: 0832242087 info@ecopointsrl.it www.ecopointsrl.it Accreditation ref. n. 1145

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

Lab4LIFE SrL Via dei Fornaciai 21 G/H 40129 – Bologna (BO) P: 051 4170410 info@lab4life.com www.lab4life.com Accreditation ref. n. 1337

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

CORONATI CONSULTING SrL Via Luigi Gavioli, 3 41037 – Mirandola (MO) Tel. 0535 611533 info@coronaticonsulting.it www.coronaticonsulting.it Accreditation ref. n. 1496

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

ECOPRISMA SrL Via Bigoli, 85 59100 – Prato (PO) P: 0574 660845 info@ecoprisma.it www.ecoprisma.it Accreditation ref. n. 1621

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Scope: 5.2.5 Microbial cleanliness (Bioburden)

ACCREDIA (Italy)

BIOCHEM S.R.L. Via Benini, 13 40069 Zola Predosa (BO) P: 051 755295 info@biochem-bcm.com www.biochem-bcm.com Accreditation ref. n. 0283

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Scope: 5.2.5 Biocompatibility

ACCREDIA (Italy)

CORONATI CONSULTING SrL Via Luigi Gavioli, 3 41037 – Mirandola (MO) P: 0535 611533 info@coronaticonsulting.it www.coronaticonsulting.it Accreditation ref. n. 1496

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Scope: 5.2.5 Biocompatibility

ACCREDIA (Italy)

EUROFINS BIOLAB S.r.l. Via Bruno Buozzi 2 20090 – Vimodrone (MI) P: 02 250 7151 www.biolab.it Accreditation ref. n. 0032

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Scope: 5.2.5 Biocompatibility

ACCREDIA (Italy)

Lab4LIFE SrL Via dei Fornaciai 21 G/H 40129 – Bologna (BO) P: 051 4170410 info@lab4life.com www.lab4life.com Accreditation ref. n. 1337

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Scope: 5.2.5 Biocompatibility

ACCREDIA (Italy)

VeronaLab SrL Via Alessandro Volta, 8 Villafranca Fraz. Dossobuono (VR) P: 0458601320 info@veronalab.it Accreditation ref. n. 1055

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Scope: 5.2.5 Biocompatibility

BELAC (Belgium)

CENTEXBEL 056-TEST Contact: Mark Croes mc@centexbel.be P: +32 474 681 093

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COFRAC (France)

APAVE SUDEUROPE SAS Région Rhône-Alpes/ Bourgogne/Auvergne – Site de Lyon 177 Route de Sain-Bel – BP 3 69811 TASSIN Cedex Contact : Stéphane MOUË stephane.moue@apave.com Accreditation n°1-1461

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DAkkS (Germany)

Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e.V. (DGUV) Prüf- und Zertifizierungsstelle im DGUV Test Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA) Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin puz-ifa@dguv.de Accreditation No: D-PL-17009-34-00

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DAkkS (Germany)

DEKRA Testing and Certification GmbH Adlerstraße 29, 45307 Essen P: +49 351 21181410 dtc-sales@dekra.com Accreditation No: D-PL-17438-01-03

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ENAC (Spain)

Centro Nacional De Medios De Proteccion Del INSHT (CNMP) C/ Carabela La Niña, 16. 41007 – Sevilla (Sevilla) P: +34 954 51 41 11 pcaceres@insht.meyss.es

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ENAC (Spain)

Asociación De Investigación De La Industria Textil (AITEX) (REVISAR) Plaza Emilio Sala, 1. 03801 – Alcoi (Alicante) P: +34 96 554 22 00 sfigueres@aitex.es www.aitex.es

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PCA (Poland)

Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute ul. Czerniakowska 16; 00-701 Warszawa P: 22 623-32-90 onip@ciop.pl www.ciop.pl Accreditation No: 038

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UKAS (UK)

3M Aycliffe Personal Safety Division Laboratory Heighington Lane, Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 6AF Contact: David Gurden-Williams P: 01325 305234 dgurden@mmm.com Accreditation No: 1127

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UKAS (UK)

BSI Kitemark Court Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PP Contact: Ms Maria Crane P: 01908 814724

regulatory.enquiries@bsigroup.com Accreditation No: 0135

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