From developed countries to emerging economies, people across the globe are demanding for protective masks to reduce the risk of getting infected by COVID-19. To cope up with increasing demand, Battelle Memorial Institute, an Ohio-based applied science and technology development company, has announced that it has commenced deploying CCDS systems to decontaminate medical protective equipment and N95 respiratory masks.

Sources cite that the Battelle CCDS Critical Care Decontamination System™ has the capability of decontaminating up to 80,000 masks per day. The system can process even more pieces of PPE (personal protective equipment) each day.

The system uses concentrated VPHP (vapor phase hydrogen peroxide) and operates by exposing used masks to the desired concentration level for around 2.5 hours to remove biological contaminants like SARS-CoV-2.

Matt Vaughan, Contract Research President, Battelle said that the company’s team is mobilized to commence acquiring parts and creating manufacturing processes to deploy systems for aiding those on the frontline who require protective equipment. The company is developing next units and is in contact with health officials across the nation to decide where to place them.

For the record, Battelle has been serving the military to protect troops from biological and chemical hazards. The company operates on level 2 and level 3 biosafety labs where research is performed on dangerous viruses including SARC-CoV-2. The company has full medical device development professionals that work with the U.S. FDA regularly. 

Reportedly, in an FDA study, VPHP decontamination was shown to record in 6-log reduction of G. stearothermophilus while not reducing filter performance of N95 respirators for several decontamination cycles.

Battelle also has a fully operational system at its West Jefferson-based facility that has conducted test batches of used PPE obtained from Central Ohio hospitals. The company is working closely with the U.S. FDA to get the EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) to commence processing previously used PPE in a clinical setting.

Source Credit - https://www.battelle.org/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-detail/battelle-ccds-critical-care-decontamination-system-being-deployed-to-meet-urgent-need-for-personal-protective-equipment-for-nation-s-healthcare-workforce