Infectious Disease
Filters
Infectious Disease PAPR Hoods, HEPA Cartridges and Respiratory Protection
Airborne pathogen protection succeeds or fails on two things: how much the respirator reduces exposure, and whether the person wearing it can keep it on through a full shift. ILC Dover Sentinel powered air-purifying respirators address both, with HEPA P100 filtration, loose-fitting hoods that need no fit testing, and protection factors reaching 1,000. Complete systems and conversion kits put a ready-to-wear configuration together in one order, and hoods, head covers and cartridges are stocked in packs of 3, 25 and 30 for unit-level and facility-level supply.
Why Hospitals Specify PAPR for Infectious Disease
A filtering facepiece respirator depends on a seal against the face. That seal has to be established by fit testing, re-established whenever a model changes, and maintained by a clean-shaven face, and it is uncomfortable over long periods. A loose-fitting hooded PAPR works differently: filtered air is pushed into the hood under positive pressure, so protection does not depend on a face seal at all.
- No fit testing required on any Sentinel hood or head cover
- Single-size hoods remove the need to stock and manage multiple sizes
- Protection factors from 25 up to 1,000, against an assigned protection factor of 10 for an N95
- Positive airflow reduces heat and breathing effort during extended wear
- Compatible with prescription eyewear, hearing protection and, on the head cover, stethoscopes
Choosing the Right Hood for the Exposure
Protection is specified against the pathogen and the procedure, not bought at a single level for the whole hospital. The three head tops on this page differ in protection factor, field of view and barrier performance:
| Head top | Protection | Design | Best for | Packs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SKU S-4001 |
25 Assigned protection factor, 2.5× an N95 |
Single size, stethoscope compatible, with a secure threaded breathing tube connection |
Routine airborne isolation work, the everyday option |
|
|
SKU S-3101 |
1,000 Assigned protection factor, 100× an N95 |
320 degree field of view and no internal suspension system. Accommodates most head, hearing and eye protection |
Work where peripheral vision and situational awareness matter |
|
|
Sentinel XL BioShield Full Hood SKU S-2028 |
1,000 Assigned protection factor, plus ASTM barrier testing |
Taped seam construction, with internal and external protective skirts that interface with most suits |
High-consequence pathogen care with splash or contact risk |
Complete Systems and Conversion Kits for Each Hood
Each hood can be bought as part of a ready-to-wear system, or as a conversion kit for Sentinel XL hardware a hospital already owns. Systems include the blower, battery, flow meter, breathing tube, Quick-Loc waist belt, HEPA cartridges and a duffel bag. Conversion kits supply the hood, breathing tube and HEPA cartridges.
Head cover
APF 25
Complete system
Sentinel XL HP Standard System (S-3000-01), with a NiMH battery and Smart Battery Charger
Conversion kit
HP Head Cover Conversion Kit (S-3000-05)
Clear hood
APF 1,000
Complete system
Sentinel XL HP Clear Hood System (S-3000-16), with an alkaline battery pack
Conversion kit
HP Clear Hood Conversion Kit (S-3000-19)
BioShield full hood
APF 1,000, ASTM F1670 and F1671
Complete system
Sentinel XL HP BioShield Full Hood System (S-3000-23), with an alkaline battery pack
Conversion kit
HP BioShield Full Hood Conversion Kit (S-3000-24)
Choosing the power source
The NiMH battery in the HP Standard System suits units in daily rotation. The alkaline packs in the Clear Hood and BioShield systems run on standard D-cells with no charging required, which suits surge units held in reserve for an outbreak.
BioShield Barrier Performance
The BioShield full hood is built for situations where splash and contact exposure accompany the airborne route. Its protective hood and taped seams pass the two tests the CDC references for resistance to synthetic blood and bloodborne pathogen penetration:
- ASTM F1670-14 Resistance to penetration by synthetic blood
- ASTM F1671-13 Resistance to penetration by bloodborne pathogens
The skirt and exhaust system inflates the suit, which improves both the protective interface and wearer comfort, and hood stability holds position across a range of movement.
HEPA P100 Filtration
Sentinel HEPA cartridges (S-4002) remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles of 0.3 microns and larger, the size range used to define high-efficiency particulate air performance. Bacteria, viral-laden respiratory aerosols and other bioaerosols are captured within that envelope. Cartridges are supplied as 3 packs of 2 for unit-level stock or 25 packs of 2 for facility-level and outbreak reserve.
HEPA cartridges are for particulates only. Where a task also involves vapors or gases, such as hazardous drug handling or sporicidal disinfection, see the cartridge options on the healthcare page.
Keeping PAPR Units in Service Through an Outbreak
When the same units are worn back to back across shifts and cleaned between users, these durable components keep them in rotation.
- Rechargeable power The Rechargeable NiMH Battery Pack (S-2003) runs up to 8 hours per charge, and the Smart Battery Charger (S-2009) charges it while it stays in the blower, so a unit can go back into service without being taken apart.
- Pre-use airflow checks The Sentinel Flow Meter (S-2010) verifies blower airflow before a unit goes into service and works with Sentinel XL and XT blowers.
- Spare blowers The Sentinel XL Blower Assembly (S-2002) is a rugged dual-chamber blower that works with every head top on this page and with rechargeable or alkaline battery packs.
- Cleanable wearables The 19” Extendable Breathing Tube (S-3508) extends from 19 to 48 inches and is latex free and hypoallergenic, and the Quick-Loc Waist Belt (S-4011) is polymeric and easy to clean between users.
Stocking for Outbreak Readiness
Infectious disease demand does not arrive gradually. The pack structure on this page exists to let a hospital hold a working quantity on the unit and a deeper reserve centrally, without committing to bulk quantities before they are needed.
Packs of 3
Head covers, clear hoods, BioShield hoods and HEPA cartridges, for departmental stock, replacement and low-turnover units
Packs of 25
Head covers, BioShield hoods and HEPA cartridges, for emergency departments, high-acuity units and central supply
Clear hoods, for central supply and outbreak reserve where field of view is the priority
Stocking tip
Hoods, head covers and cartridges are consumable items with finite use, so an isolation room capability is only as real as the consumables behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a PAPR instead of an N95 for infectious disease care?
An N95 relies on a tight seal against the face, which requires fit testing and can be uncomfortable across a long shift. A loose-fitting hooded PAPR delivers filtered air under positive pressure, so it needs no fit testing, offers a higher protection factor, and can be worn for extended periods more comfortably.
What is an assigned protection factor, and what do Sentinel hoods provide?
An assigned protection factor expresses how much a respirator reduces the wearer's exposure to airborne contaminants. An N95 filtering facepiece carries an assigned protection factor of 10. The Sentinel HP Head Cover is rated at 25, and the Sentinel XL HP Clear Hood and Sentinel XL BioShield Full Hood are both rated at 1,000, which is 100 times the protection of an N95.
What do the Sentinel HEPA cartridges filter?
They remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in diameter and larger, which is the defining performance level for HEPA filtration and covers the size range of bacteria and respiratory bioaerosols. They are for particulates only, so tasks that also involve vapors or gases need a different cartridge.
What makes the BioShield Full Hood suitable for high-consequence pathogens?
It combines a protection factor of 1,000 with taped seam construction and internal and external protective skirts that interface with most suits. The hood and taped seams pass ASTM F1670-14 and ASTM F1671-13 for resistance to synthetic blood and bloodborne pathogen penetration.
Can staff who cannot pass an N95 fit test use these hoods?
Loose-fitting hooded PAPRs do not rely on a face seal, which is why they are commonly specified for staff who cannot achieve a seal with a tight-fitting respirator, including those with facial hair or facial features that prevent a reliable fit. Confirm any substitution against your facility's own respiratory protection program before deployment.
Which hood should be specified for routine isolation versus high-consequence care?
The Sentinel HP Head Cover at a protection factor of 25 covers routine airborne isolation work and is stethoscope compatible. The Clear Hood and the BioShield Full Hood both provide a protection factor of 1,000. Choose the Clear Hood where field of view is the priority, and the BioShield Full Hood for high-consequence pathogen care with splash or contact risk, since its taped seams pass ASTM barrier testing and its skirts interface with most suits.
Which complete Sentinel system comes with each hood?
The Sentinel XL HP Standard System (S-3000-01) comes with the head cover and a NiMH battery with the Smart Battery Charger. The HP Clear Hood System (S-3000-16) and HP BioShield Full Hood System (S-3000-23) come with an alkaline battery pack that runs on standard D-cells. All three include the blower, HEPA cartridges, flow meter, breathing tube, Quick-Loc waist belt and a duffel bag.
Can an existing Sentinel XL system be converted for infectious disease use?
Yes. The HP Head Cover (S-3000-05), Clear Hood (S-3000-19) and BioShield Full Hood (S-3000-24) conversion kits each supply the hood, breathing tube and HEPA cartridges for one configuration on a compatible Sentinel XL system. A hospital can use them to move existing units to a higher protection factor, or to bring decontamination units into infectious disease use.
Why are hoods and cartridges sold in packs of 3, 25 and 30?
The pack sizes let a facility hold small working quantities at unit level and a deeper reserve centrally. Packs of 3 suit departmental replacement and lower-turnover areas. Packs of 25 head covers, BioShield hoods and HEPA cartridges, and the 30-pack of clear hoods, suit emergency departments, high-acuity units and outbreak reserve stock.
How do I set up replenishment for a hospital or health system?
Every system, hood, cartridge and component above can be ordered directly from this page. For standing replenishment, multi-site supply or help matching hoods and cartridges to your protocols, request a quote or call ILC Dover on 469-822-8981, Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:30 CST.
Respiratory Protection Built for Clinical Reality
Equipment that protects on paper but is abandoned halfway through a shift protects nobody. Sentinel hoods and cartridges are designed around what actually happens in a clinical setting: long wear, awkward positions, stethoscopes, eyewear, and staff who need protection today rather than after a fit testing cycle.
Browse the infectious disease range above, from complete systems and conversion kits to hoods, cartridges, batteries and airflow verification. For hazardous drug and decontamination configurations, see healthcare respiratory protection, or the complete Advanced Respiratory Protection catalog.
Supplying a hospital or health system?
Talk to the team about standing replenishment, multi-site supply or matching hoods and cartridges to your protocols. Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:30 CST.