The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) has issued multiple counterfeit N95 respirator notices since early April. Most recently, in May, NPPTL warned of a counterfeit respirator being sold and marketed as NIOSH-approved although the manufacturer, Zubi-Ola, is not a private label holder or a NIOSH approval holder. The agency also contends that the manufacturer Wein Products is misrepresenting NIOSH approval for a respirator on the company website. All approvals for Wein Products were rescinded in 2011, according to NIOSH. Manufacturers were contacted and requested to remove all misleading information and references to NIOSH from their websites.

In April, NIOSH alerted respirator users, purchasers, and manufacturers about a counterfeit N95 respirator that carried a valid testing and certification (TC) number and private label holder (KOSTO), but could be identified by the misspelling of “NIOSH” on the front. A photograph of the counterfeit respirator is available on NIOSH’s , where the agency will post notices as it becomes aware of other counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting NIOSH approval.

To verify if a respirator is NIOSH-approved, the agency suggests checking the respirator approval markings or the . An example of the correct exterior markings on a NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirator is posted near the bottom of NIOSH’s .

For more information, NIOSH urges respirator users to visit its , which includes information on the different types of respirators and how to identify approved models and outlets for purchase; a listing of all NIOSH-approved and FDA-cleared surgical N95 respirators; a listing of recently revoked respirator approvals; and relevant user notices.

NPPTL is the division of NIOSH that works to prevent diseases, injury, and death for workers relying on personal protective equipment.