Part of the Society
The most talked-about word in 2020 is not world peace but face masks and fit-to-fly COVID exams. Healthcare professionals wear PPE to prevent them from contracting viruses or transmitting viruses that cause health issues and other severe diseases while doing tests like the Herpes Simplex Kits or any other STI Home Kit options that are profiles of multiple biomarkers.
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. Contrary to popular belief, STD doctors and healthcare providers are not the only ones who wear protective clothing. They can be classified into the following categories:
- Face Cover
- Eye Shield
- Hand Gloves
- Body Protection
- Hearing Protection
Though several covers are in the market, we will only concentrate on the main ones. These are:
Surgical
Doctors and health care providers wear these to protect themselves from inhaling bacteria and virus-infected aerosols transmitted from patient samples during COVID-19. It is the same for STI Home Kits. And even viruses like herpes simplex. Different surgical categories are based on their use, from regular to dental covers. Remember that they do not offer 100% protection from viruses because they can not release small particles into the air. However, most countries recommend them to their citizens due to their price.
N-95 Respirators
Workers wear these to protect themselves because they are more effective than surgical at 95%. However, due to the shortage of these covers, citizens are advised only to wear surgical as these are readily available. These covers protect the wearer from small air particles, mists, fumes, and microorganisms. Unlike surgical, these will require fit checks before you buy. Doctors and health care providers should wear N-95 respirators while doing Herpes Type Kits and other diseases. These masks are mainly for lab workers or at risk of contracting airborne diseases.
Half Mask
A half mask protects you from harmful fumes, gas vapour, and airborne microorganisms. The respirator is helpful if you are in a place that does not require you to protect your eyes from hazardous substances. It also requires fit-to-fly reports before buying it. However, this is not ideal while doing fit-to-fly exam in the laboratory. Stick to surgical masks in a lab.
Cover
These face masks protect against airborne microbes, viruses, dust, and gases while also protecting the wearer’s eyes and face.
Body Protection PPE
Firstly, an individual working in a hazardous environment must have protective clothing. Wearing PPE while testing patient samples for HPV-type STIs is the best practice. PPE should be disposed of properly after use; do not reuse it.
Do cotton and Polyester Blends protect
TTR Workers who wear clothes made from polyester are protected from dirt, chemical hazards, radiation, and biological hazards. Avoid using the same PPE to test patient samples; for example, Herpes PCR kit protocols require that a change of PPE is recommended for any new sampling attempt. That also includes other types of sample systems, as avoiding cross-contamination is a good idea. Especially considering the full profile infection products for STI Home Kits products, as they are packages of multiple biomarkers, they are great value for money as long as there is no contamination.
Nomex or Flame Resistant Cotton
Those who deal with chemicals, explosives, and organic solvents wear Nomex-made clothes.
Polyester
Doctors wear clothes made from polyester to protect themselves from infectious diseases. Keep in mind that polyester is not fire-resistant. As we get more accustomed to using PPE, we must also ensure we adhere to social distancing to flatten the curve further. Also, do Fit to Fly COVID clinic near me regularly.