Isolation Room Air Purification Systems

Due to the recent SARS pandemic in Ontario Canada, Taiwan, ROC and Hong Kong, NQ Industries, Inc. and its’ patented technologies, specifically the NQ500 negative pressure mobile air purification system, meets and exceeds CDC, OSHA and WHO Guidelines for isolation and negative pressure rooms.

The SARS corona-virus has been found to be alive outside the host after a much longer time than any other previous pathogen. Naturally, if guidelines for negative pressure isolation rooms were designed for the TB virus, the Corona virus has been found to be still active 8 times longer than TB thereby outdating traditional methods of practice. The traditional HEPA only machine is not enough for control of this infection; the highest potential for reducing and eliminating these pathogens requires the use of both HEPA and UVGI. HEPA seals and filter paper are not a guarantee for collection of SARS given the size of the pathogen @ .1 micron. The practice of filter irradiation systems with a single UVGI bulb will not have enough irradiation power and the small virus pathogen will not be trapped in the HEPA filter nor in the irradiation zone for a long enough time, to be deactivated by the low amount of UVGI.

UVGI must be powerful enough to deactivate the pathogen on the first pass. Whatever is then collected in the HEPA filter will be deactivated and no longer viable or able to replicate. The NQ500 is designed with enough UVGI dosage 4 to 5 times more than what is required to deactivate TB and the corona virus. SARS has been seen to be similar in size and genus to other known corona-virus samples. Given that SARS has not been completely identified specifically, categorized and has possibly even mutated, the pathogen is dangerous and should be treated with the most effective methods of airborne and topical methods available.

The air purification unit has to be not only mobile it needs to be user friendly, durable and cost effective to meet the needs of any medical facility. The typical cost of a traditional fixed isolation room is between $50,000 and $75,000. The NQ 500 will give you 12 ACH+ in a typical patient room and is not only effective in meeting and exceeding CDC guidelines, The typical cost for an isolation room using an NQ500 may be 80% LESS than a traditional isolation room.

Below is a list of items used to categorize air treatment systems by ECRI. The points listed are the advantages over typical HEPA only machines and "like" UV devices either using filtration or not. The NQ 500 was found to be the only system to have true certified HEPA,

4 Specific items to be aware of when looking for an air purifier to upgrade CDC required room air changes or for negative pressure isolation rooms:

1. Powerful enough UV irradiation to inactivate target virus or other pathogens. NQ has 3 lamps and ALZAK reflector (Others simply apply it to the filter for mold growth)
2. Mobile for emergency use in other hospital areas when contamination hits. NQ is easily moveable and reconnected (Some others hang on a wall and cannot be moved)
3. Airflow pattern of clean air toward healthcare worker and dirty air away from both healthcare worker and patient. NQ has patent on height and airflow grille for this purpose. (Others short circuit or entrain dirty air in outlet airstream)
4. Ease of maintenance and decontaminated at all times when service is required. NQ has UV bathing all interior parts (Others must gas the system or wait)

Mobile High Efficiency Filter Air Cleaners — (MHEFAC) July 23, 1996

Comments and Issues

NQ Industries NQ 500 (23 points to a better unit)

• has hour meter,
• has excellent operators manual,
• has pressure gauges
• has a small footprint at 13" x 26",
• has disconnect alarm,
• has CSA certification,
• has recirculation and exhaust option,
• has locking 3_" ball bearing casters,
• has longest HEPA life of 2 to 3 years,
• has Full Certified HEPA
• has an inexpensive HEPA filter,
• has a normal speech sound level of 54 dB,
• has complete airflow patterns because of height,
• has smoke detector option to stop unit for safety,
• has easiest set up with a simple plugging in,
• has minihelic pressure gauge to monitor life of all 3 air filters,
• has low operating cost of 430 watt power use,
• has three 55 watt UVGI with low cost lamps and LED monitor,
• has UVGI lamps creating over 45,000 micro-watt seconds/cm2 of UV Dosage for full destruction of airflow,
• has door interlock which turns unit and lamps off when servicing,
• has longest warranty, longer of 2 year or 18,000 hours,
• has best protection from blockage of air inlet or outlet,
• has low total cost for full UV+HEPA and easy to install,
• has met and exceeded ALL tests and is recommended by ECRI.

ECRI Health Devices report, October ’99 vol.18 no.113, is available for $125 at 610-825-6000

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