KN95 Incorrect Media Coverage
Recent media coverage – Life Biotech’s imported KN95 mask from Homar (S.Sangso) being sold via Chemist Direct
Claim: Chemist Direct was selling counterfeit masks.
Life Biotech is an Australian Company led by a team of experienced medical professionals who are united in the goal of improving and sustaining life. Under this highly qualified team of experts, product development and validation is carried out, ensuring that only the highest quality products, in full compliance to the appropriate standards, are included within the Life Biotech portfolio.
Homar is a publicly listed company in China and takes its manufacturing processes, quality assurance, and overall performance very seriously.
Life Biotech’s imports KN95 masks from Homar under the brand S.Sangso and Medigear
1 The Homar KN95 masks, S.Sangso and Medigear, are manufactured and independently tested to comply with the KN95 (equiv to N95) standard as a compliant KN95 respirator.
2 Compliant KN95 – evidenced by multiple GB2626:2006 laboratory tests performed in a certified CNAS Center
3 Compliant to EN149 – evidenced by an independent test performed in accordance with the EN149 standard
4 Compliant to AS/NZS1716:2006 – evidenced by the GB2626:2006 test reports
5 BFE >95% – evidenced in all tests undertaken including independent testing through Intertek
Frontline or end users can be assured that the KN95 masks manufactured by Homar are compliant to the appropriate standards and can offer the level of protection implied when used appropriately.
Life Biotech undertakes product evaluation audits with each batch purchased in China to ensure a consistent, evidenced supported finished product, is maintained.
Claims made on Social Media and subsequently supported by the media by alleged experts were made without an inspection, research, or validation of the product/brand. These allegations were based on a limited understanding of the relevant applicable standards.
2 comments on “KN95 Incorrect Media Coverage”
Jon Ylinen
Hello,
I am wondering what the basis for the claim of the fake S.Sangso masks is that you mentioned above? We received some at our company and do not have the required markings, so some individuals are claiming they are fake. They look exactly like the ones pictured in this link: https://lifebiotech.com.au/product/medigear-kn95-mask-4-ply/
admin
Hello
The basis of the claim was a Hygienist who claimed the product was fake but had not reviewed the mask, test reports, or anything about the product. It spurred a debate that we later had corrected with NSW WHS regarding what is fake and what is not. If the product is accredited to the standard they are audited by a third party company once a year, every two years, or sometimes every three years. Through this auditing, they evaluate the internal procedures and validate the performance. This is when they are issued with an accreditation number and it is required under the GB2626 that the details are printed on the mask. If the mask is tested to a standard, it is first manufactured and then sent for testing. We had Ssangso manufacture the masks to a specification and then sent the finished product for testing. These masks are tested to the GB2626 not accredited to the standard. There are two completely separate options here, accredited and “tested to” which is not fake providing the test results can be presented which we have available. Unfortunately, many people became confused because the media and some “experts” claimed they knew the difference between fake and real. These are very poor terms and should be replaced with compliant or non-compliant as both options are compliant within their scope and a non-compliant mask would be one that fails testing – which means there is very little chance that a person could tell a compliant mask from a non-compliant without conducting some basic tests.
Please note that if you are located in the USA, the product manufactured by Ssangso for Life Biotech Australia was not necessarily the same as what was manufactured for the USA nor can I provide any insight into the testing of those masks.