How to spot a counterfeit AMD-P2 respirator
, by AussiePharmaDirect, 2 min reading time
At the start of the pandemic, it was thought COVID-19 was transmitted purely by coughs, sneezes and proximity to infected people, and while this is true, we now know the virus is airborne which means it can hang around in the air for much longer, making if far more contagious, thus the need for a quality face mask is paramount to protect your health and livelihood.
We also now know that cloth and surgical masks do not ‘cut the mustard’ and for proper protection, you need to wear a P2 respirator or equivalent. P2 is the Australian and New Zealand equivalent of the US N95 face mask.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous manufacturers are duping consumers into purchasing fake P2 masks that do not meet Australia’s rigorous Therapeutic Goods Administration standards. These fakes pose a health risk to anyone wearing them as they have been made in substandard conditions and do not provide adequate protection.
While Omicron is generally mild for most people, some people get struck down with a serious case of COVID, and really, no one wants to play Russian Roulette with their health or the health of their loved ones.
AMD P2 masks have grown in popularity because the nano-technology made to use them makes them light, comfortable and breathable whilst offering a an extremely high (PFE) particle filtration efficiency at 99.66%.
So how do you spot a fake AMD P2 mask?
The mask should be printed with the following information on the outside or the inside (for the black masks):
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Name and logo of the manufacturer, i.e., AMD
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Australian/New Zealand Standard number AS/NZS 1716:2012
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Manufacturer model number: P2
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European certification mark: CE
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Notified body responsible for the product certification – i.e., the number after CE: 2233
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Filtering facepiece class: FFP2_NR – Note: NR indicates the mask is intended for single use
If any of the above information is missing, then it is not an AMD P2 mask. Another tell-tale sign is incorrect spelling on the mask or box and missing manufacturer’s user instructions.
In addition, the four-ply AMD Nano-Tech Respirator is ARTG listed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for peace of mind quality assurance and was deemed the official supplier of medical masks to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020 and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Beware of any others that are making claim to this.
The easiest and safest way to ensure you are buying an authentic Australian-manufactured AMD P2 respirator is to buy from Aussie Pharma Direct. You can check out the various certifications and reports here.
Don’t take a chance on your health. Buy the real McCoy here.
Written by Jenny Westdorp