Infectious Disease

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 respirator components address both, with HEPA P100 filtration, loose-fitting hoods that need no fit testing, and protection factors reaching 1,000. Hoods, head covers and cartridges are stocked in packs of 3 and 25 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-top options on this page sit at deliberately different points:

• Sentinel HP Head Cover (S-4001, packs of 3 or 25) - assigned protection factor of 25, which is 2.5 times the protection of an N95. Single size, stethoscope compatible, with a secure threaded breathing tube connection. The everyday option for routine airborne isolation work.
• Sentinel XL HP Clear Hood (S-3101, pack of 3) - 100 times the protection of an N95, with a 320 degree field of view and no internal suspension system. Suits work where peripheral vision and situational awareness matter, and accommodates most head, hearing and eye protection.
• Sentinel XL BioShield Full Hood (S-2028, packs of 3 or 25) - protection factor of 1,000, taped seam construction, and internal and external protective skirts that interface with most suits. The highest tier here, intended for high-consequence pathogen care.

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 ASTM F1670-14 and ASTM F1671-13, the tests the CDC references for resistance to synthetic blood and bloodborne pathogen penetration. 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.

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 pricing before it is needed. 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.

• Packs of 3 for departmental stock, replacement and low-turnover units
• Packs of 25 for emergency departments, high-acuity units and central supply
• Cartridges and head tops sized to match, so replenishment stays proportional

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 BioShield Full Hood at 1,000. The Sentinel XL HP Clear Hood offers 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.

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 BioShield Full Hood at 1,000, with taped seams and suit interface, is the option for high-consequence pathogen care. The Clear Hood sits between them where field of view is the priority.

Why are hoods and cartridges sold in packs of 3 and 25?

The two 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 suit emergency departments, high-acuity units and outbreak reserve stock.

How do I set up replenishment for a hospital or health system?

Hoods, head covers and cartridges above can all be ordered directly online. 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. For batteries, chargers, airflow verification and full system configuration, see healthcare respiratory protection, or the complete Advanced Respiratory Protection catalog.