FNUSA-ICRC tested Italian face masks

The International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno actively participated in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic also by testing face masks. Due to the situation in Italy, where it was difficult to find free capacity for tests for certification, the face masks of the Italian manufacturer were tested in Brno.

Until recently, MODA Impresa s.r.l. sewed accessories for world brands Dolce Gabbana, Versace, Ferré and others. After the beginning of the pandemic, company quickly reorganized production and began producing face masks for paramedics. But the problem was with their certification for use in hospitals. Laboratories in Italy were fully occupied to test patients, and it was not possible to carry out certification tests at universities either. Thanks to good contacts in Italy, specifically at the University of Florence, face masks soon reached Brno.

Our laboratories at Biopark proved to be the most suitable, so testing could begin. “We mainly performed microscopic analyzes of the surface structure and the filter, as well as integrity tests, which helped with the certification itself. Now they can also be used by doctors in Italian hospitals, “said Giancarlo Forte, head of Center for Translational Medicine and Vice Chair of FNUSA-ICRC.

Even after successful certification, the work does not end, researchers would still be interested in the behavior of viruses when passing through the filter. “We will monitor fluorescent nanoparticles that are even smaller than droplets with virus and analyze whether and how much they pass through the filter. This could help to further improve the material for the filters, “added Giancarlo Forte.