NEWSLETTER

National agencies are asking health care providers and consumers to be aware of scammers that are taking advantage of the COVID-19 outbreak to sell counterfeit and fraudulent products online. As the health care industry continues to struggle with PPE shortages, dentists should take steps to ensure the supplies they are purchasing are authorized.

National agencies are asking health care providers and consumers to be aware of scammers that are taking advantage of the COVID-19 outbreak to sell counterfeit and fraudulent products online. As the health care industry continues to struggle with PPE shortages, dentists should take steps to ensure the supplies they are purchasing are authorized.

Counterfeit masks

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has issued a warning of online marketplaces that are selling counterfeit respirators. The products are being falsely marketed and sold as NIOSH-approved and may not be capable of providing appropriate respiratory protection to providers, according to the statement released on April 21.

Dental professionals can identify a NIOSH-approved respirator by:

• A NIOSH approval label on or within the packaging of the respirator
• An abbreviated approval on the facepiece itself
• An approval number, which can be verified on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List or the NIOSH Trusted-Source page

NIOSH-approved respirators will always have one of the following designations: N95, N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99, P100. NIOSH offers the following tips to identify if a respirator is counterfeit:

• No markings at all on the filtering facepiece respirator
• An abbreviated approval on the facepiece itself
• An approval number, which can be verified on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List or the NIOSH Trusted-Source page

NIOSH-approved respirators will always have one of the following designations: N95, N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99, P100. NIOSH offers the following tips to identify if a respirator is counterfeit:

• No markings at all on the filtering facepiece respirator
• No NIOSH markings
• Presence of decorative fabric or other decorative add-ons (e.g., sequins)
• Claims for the of approval for children (NIOSH does not approve any type of respiratory protection for children) 
• Filtering facepiece respirator has ear loops instead of headbands 

Find a list of known counterfeit respirators on the NIOSH website. 

FDA issues emergency use authorization for non-NIOSH approved respirators 

While providers are encouraged to use NIOSH-approved equipment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use of authorization for non-NIOSH approved respirators during the COVID-19 outbreak — as long as they are used in accordance with CDC recommendations. 

View the FDA’s list of authorized respirators for further guidance on purchasing non-NIOSH approved respirators. For the most current CDC recommendations on optimizing respirator use, visit CDC’s webpage: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators. 

Fraudulent COVID-19 disinfectants 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the sale of illegal disinfectant products on online marketplaces. The agency issued a warning to eight online retailers and third-party companies advising them to remove the fraudulent products from their site. The companies include:

• Facebook
• eBay
• Alibaba Shopify
• Qoo10 
• JoyBuy.com 
• Wish.com 
• banggood.com 

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), products that claim to kill or repel viruses, bacteria or other germs are considered pesticides and must be registered with the EPA prior to distribution or sale. Find a full list of EPA’s approved disinfectant products at epa.gov/coronavirus. 

Fraudulent COVID-19 test kits 

In addition to counterfeit respirators, consumers are asked to be aware of fraudulent COVID-19 test kits. The FDA has sent out a warning about unauthorized fraudulent test kits that are being marketed for individuals to test for COVID-19 without the help of a medical professional. 

“We want to alert the American public that, at this time, the FDA has not authorized any test that is available to purchase for testing yourself at home for COVID-19,” according to the alert. 

The FDA says it is actively working with test developers to create a home test, but as of now, the only way to be tested for COVID-19 is to talk to your health care provider. As of now, dentists are not permitted to conduct testing for COVID-19. 

If you are aware of fraudulent test kits for COVID-19, you should report them to the FDA. 

If you are aware of fraudulent test kits for COVID-19, you should report them to the FDA. To find more guidance on how to protect your patients, practice and staff during the pandemic, visit CDA’s COVID-19 information center. Practice Interruptions Related 

Source : https://www.cdc.gov