Air purifiers against Covid: A Blueair study.

Do Blueair purifiers remove coronavirus?

To help answer this question, Blueair took an aggressive approach to put the HealthProtect™ air purifiers to the test as the leading brand to test against the live SARS-CoV-2 virus. Results from bio safety lab, MRIGlobal, show the HealthProtect™ 7400 series air purifiers effectively removed 99.99% of the live airborne virus (SARS-CoV-2) from an 0,37 m³ biosafety lab test chamber.

The testing journey

First, Blueair identified one of only a handful of global labs that can accommodate live aerosolized coronavirus testing, US-based MRIGlobal. The accredited biosafety lab has a proven track record of safety and expertise, performing contract scientific and engineering research for government and industry partners including the DOD, CDC, EPA and NIH.

Capturing live SARS-CoV-2 virus particles

To test coronavirus removal, a Blueair HealthProtect™ 7410i air purifier was placed inside a Class III biological safety cabinet, measuring 0,37m³. Although our 7400 series models are AHAM Verifide® for room sizes up to 38 m², the size of the testing area was limited by safety protocols for the volume of aerosolized virus particles allowed. The live virus particles were pressurized, also called aerosolizing, using a device called a nebulizer to replicate the fine particles of respiratory droplets spread by an infected person. Theses droplets can hang in the air for up to a few hours.

Phase 1

To understand how much of the virus remains in the air without an air purifier, three tests were conducted inside the bio-safety cabinet with the air purifier turned OFF. Virus particles were released into the area using a pressurized device, turning the particles into an aerosolized mist and circulated by a fan for 10 minutes to ensure they were distributed throughout the testing area. After 5 minutes, a sample was taken to measure the concentration of coronavirus particles in the air. An average of the three tests became our baseline measurement.

Phase 2

Next, the same process was repeated three times, except, this time, the HealthProtect™ 7410i air purifier was turned ON at the 10-minute mark. Like the three baseline tests, air samples were taken after 5 minutes to measure the concentration of aerosolized coronavirus particles. An average of the three tests became the reduction or removal measurement. When compared with the baseline measurement, the results show 99.99% of the live aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 was removed from the air in the test chamber.

“When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses in a home or confined space,” says the EPA.

If you want to know more about Blueair, then this is for you.