Are Korean kf94 masks the same as medical n95 masks, and can they be used to prevent the recent coronavirus?

KF94: Korean standard, which means that the filtration rate of masks for particles with an average diameter of 0.4μm is greater than 94%.

N95: American standard, which means that the mask can filter more than 95% of non-oily particles with a diameter of 0.3μm.

Comparison: The two standards are different. The US data comes from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Korean data refers to its Food and Drug Administration (MFDS).

Protection ability

KF94: It can filter out at least 94% of particles with a diameter of 0.4μm, and both oily and non-oily particles can reach the same level. The anti-splashing ability and bacteria filtering ability are not required.

N95: It can filter out at least 95% of particles with a diameter of 0.3μm, only non-oily particles. Anti-splashing ability and bacterial filtration ability are also not required.

Comparison: In comparison, N95 grade filter particles are better (filter diameter and filtration rate are better than KF94), but KF94 has more requirements for oily particle filtration than N95. In addition, the two non-medical masks do not have requirements for bacterial filtration efficiency and splash resistance, so they are not as effective as the dedicated medical series.