The FDA says these are the right KN95 masks to buy—and they're on sale at Amazon right now
Yahoo Life is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
In the world of face masks, the N95 is king. But because experts have advised us to reserve N95 for medical personnel, many people have turned to the next best thing: KN95 masks. Not familiar? Dr. Raymond Casciari, a pulmonologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA, explained to Yahoo Life that KN95 masks, which are similar to N95 masks, are regulated by the Chinese government rather than the US FDA. But not all K95s are created equal.
Tests conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that some KN95 masks filter out between 50 and 96 percent of particles; others filter out up to 99.5 percent of particles. (N95 masks filter out at least 95 percent of very small particles, according to the CDC.)
Some KN95 masks haven’t had the best track record in the U.S. Nonprofit patient safety organization ECRI issued a high priority hazard report in mid-September, noting that up to 70% of the KN94 masks imported from China did not meet U.S. filtration standards.
The point is, you have to find the best K95s—and we know where they are.
Shop it: Jinhua Jiadaifu Medical Supplies KN95 Masks, 20-Pack, $55 with on-page coupon (was $58), amazon.com
These are the KN95 masks that have been granted emergency-use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Meaning they meet certain criteria from the FDA to be used when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives (but they haven’t been through the same rigorous testing as products that have been FDA approved).
“The EUA was an attempt to get more personal protective equipment on the front lines at a time when the N95 masks could not meet the demand,” Casciari says. “Right now, N95 masks are being produced rapidly and are meeting the demand, so hospitals do not need to have KN95 masks.”
Great news for hospitals, and also for us—because that means these KN95 masks approved for emergency use are available to us. “Clearly, KN95 masks with an EUA are a better mask than a painter’s mask, bandana, cotton mask, or plastic face shield,” Casciari says.
Sold on Amazon by the company Jinhua Jiadaifu Medical Supplies, these EUA-granted masks cost $58 for a pack of 20. Like other KN95 masks, they’re made with five layers—a polypropylene outer shell, a melt-blown non-woven filter, an ethylene polypropylene non-woven filter, another melt-blown non-woven filter, and a spun-bound non-woven polypropylene layer.
The masks have ear loops and fit well over the face thanks to the adjustable metal nose clip. The cone-shaped design makes breathing easier than with some masks.
Reviewers have good things to say. “I purchased these in the 5-pack and liked them so much that I bought this 20 pack for myself and another for my mom,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “The ear straps are more comfortable than other masks I’ve worn.” Another reviewer who gave the masks five-stars said that they “wear them for the virus and also now for the wildfires and polluted air.”
Yikes, but that’s the world we live in right now. And it’s exactly the reason that these Jinhua Jiadaifu Medical Supplies masks are likely to sell out soon. While there are other KN95 masks available on Amazon right now, not all of them have EUAs. So stock up on these EUA masks, send them family members, grab an extra pack for anyone who might need them—and rest a bit easier knowing you’re doing the best you can to keep yourself and others protected.
Shop it: Jinhua Jiadaifu Medical Supplies KN95 Masks, 20-Pack, $55 with on-page coupon (was $58), amazon.com
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Read More from Yahoo Life:
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Life's newsletter.
