"Surgical Mask" - a Misleading Tag

systema on 24/07/2020 - 17:02

I had a quick look at the listings under the "Surgical Mask" tag just now and noticed that most of the items listed do not meet any of the following standards for surgical masks:

  • AS4381
  • ASTM F2100
  • EN14683

If an item do not meet any of the aforementioned standards, they should not be considered as surgical masks and are only as good as any other disposable face coverings. Labelling them as "surgical mask" using such a tag can be misleading.

I would suggest that Mod should consider modifying the description under the tag "Surgical Mask" as well to better reflect the differences between face mask / face covering and surgical mask.

Site Discussion Surgical Mask

Comments

  • DuckKnight on 24/07/2020 - 17:10

    I feel disposable mask is a more appropriate tag if it doesn't meet the aforementioned standards. But then again any tag for these products can be misconstrued as meeting standards.

  • netjock on 24/07/2020 - 17:50

    To think a surgeon would buy $25 box of 50 masks or $50 for 50 masks to open a patient up is just creative imagination.

    Might protect you at a near distance but not when fluids are flying in near proximity.

  • whooah1979 on 24/07/2020 - 18:51
    +2

    Surgical mask also known as a face mask so a generic term. No surgeon is going to roam ozbargain for surgical masks for their private practice.

    • mbck on 24/07/2020 - 18:56
      +5

      Dr Nick Riviera here.

  • bazingaa on 24/07/2020 - 19:57
    +1

    what about TGA approval ?

  • Moderatorscotty on 25/07/2020 - 17:12

    The reason why it's tagged as "Surgical mask" is because it's the canonical term used on Wikipedia. We actually used the text extracted from Wikipedia on the OzBargain tag page. Also on that Wikipedia page:

    Surgical masks vary by quality and levels of protection. Despite their name, not all surgical masks are appropriate to be used during surgery. Surgical masks may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental, or medical procedure masks.

    Therefore we are treating "Surgical mask" as the generic term for the disposable face mask, rather than some regulated item that's strictly associated with surgical procedures.

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