COVID-19 – How you can help
In response to inquiries to assist with the production of medical supplies during COVID-19
The ingenuity, perseverance and compassion we are seeing across the globe to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is remarkable and inspiring. Thank you for your interest in helping with the effort.
As a global manufacturer and distributor of medical products and supplies and a distributor of pharmaceutical products, Cardinal Health is an essential link in the healthcare supply chain. Our mission is now more important than ever, as we work to get critical medicines and supplies into the hands of our healthcare provider customers who need them. We are working around the clock to meet the unprecedented needs of healthcare providers so they can safely serve the patients who depend on them.
Face coverings:
One way you can help is by manufacturing PPE that provides general barrier protection and may be used by the general public, like cloth face coverings. In an April 3, 2020 update, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that (a) many individuals with COVID-19 do not exhibit symptoms (i.e., “asymptomatic”) and (b) infected persons can transmit COVID-19 to others before developing symptoms (i.e., “pre-symptomatic”). In light of this new information, people should wear cloth face coverings in public settings as an additional, voluntary public health measure. This product can be made using a variety of materials that are not currently supply-constrained. There are many “open-source” designs that are readily available online, such as:
Isolation gowns:
For manufacturers interested in producing alternative sources of PPE apparel, polyethylene or reusable (i.e., washable polyester or polyester-cotton fabrics) isolation gown designs are recommended. Material selection is critical to ensuring that these products meet regulated, barrier protection levels for use in healthcare facilities. The table below details ANSI/AAMI PB 70:12 standard classification system of barrier performance of protective apparel.
| Level | Test | Liquid Challenge | Result | Expected Barrier Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
AATCC 42 Impact Penetration |
Water |
≤ 4.5 g |
Minimal water resistance (some resistance to water spray) |
2 |
AATCC 42 Impact Penetration AATCC 127 Hydrostatic Pressure |
Water Water |
≤ 1.0 g ≥ 20 cm |
Low water resistance (resistant to water spray and some resistance to water penetration under constant contact with increasing pressure) |
3 |
AATCC 42 Impact Penetration AATCC 127 Hydrostatic Pressure |
Water Water |
≤ 1.0 g ≥ 50 cm |
Moderate water resistance (resistant to water spray and some resistance to water penetration under constant contact with increasing pressure) |
Proper fit and construction are also critical components to protection. Manufacturers should consider the barrier resistance of seams/closures when selecting the appropriate protective clothing in addition to the strength properties. CDC guidance identifies seaming techniques include serged or sewn, bound, taped, double taped, and ultrasonic welded. Additional design guidance available:
- Isolation gown pattern by Fashion Girls for Humanity
- Cardinal Health recommended dimension ranges for a Level 1 isolation gown to enable innovators to leverage their resources to evaluate alternative raw material supply options
Product resources for manufacturers as of April 9, 2020
The shield, mask and gown product design specifications listed above can be found in this PDF.
Download the document » - 481KB - PDF
Additional resources:
Please consider visiting the following links for more information about PPE:
- CDC on use of cloth face coverings to help slow spread of COVID-19
- FDA on PPE for infection control
- FDA enforcement policy for face masks and respirators
- FDA enforcement policy for gowns, other apparel and gloves
- FDA enforcement policy for ventilators and accessories and other respiratory devices
- ANSI/AAMI PB70 standards for liquid barrier performance and classification for apparel
- ASTM international standards
Community donations:
The community need for these items is broad. We recommend working directly with local health departments, non-profits, and other public agencies to distribute products that provide general barrier protection. To donate face masks, we recommend working with MAP International, a global medical relief organization and long tenured Cardinal Health partner.
Please be sure to consult with your legal or compliance team before embarking on product manufacturing. Patient safety and product quality are at the forefront of every decision we make at Cardinal Health, and we remain focused on enabling a trusted source of continuous supply that ensures patient and staff safety with FDA regulated product quality.