Blueair Air Purifiers Against COVID-19

BLUEAIR HEALTHPROTECT™ AIR PURIFIERS
effective against coronaviruses

Blueair is one of the first air purification brands to conduct tests against the live SARS-CoV-2 virus.

What is the coronavirus?

The terms used to refer to the virus are often the same outside of the scientific field. However, it's important to distinguish between the terms “COVID-19,” “coronavirus,” and “SARS-CoV-2,” as they do not have exactly the same meaning.

SARS-CoV-2 : This is the official name given to the physical virus, which stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. It is a strain belonging to the coronavirus family*.

COVID-19 : This is the disease caused by the virus (“CO” stands for “corona,” “VI” for “virus,” and “D” for disease).

*In the content of this page, the SARS-CoV-2 will be referred to as "coronavirus."

How does the coronavirus spread?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to respiratory droplets is the main source of infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19). This exposure can occur through direct contact (e.g., shaking hands) or through the air [1].

Are Blueair air purifiers effective against the coronavirus?

Blueair has taken a pragmatic approach by having its HealthProtect™ air purifiers tested. The results from the biosafety laboratory, MRIGlobal, show that the HealthProtect™ 7400 series air purifiers successfully eliminated 99.99% of airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in a 0.37 m³ test chamber【2】.

Blueair’s Swedish heritage inspires its commitment to quality. This is why the brand advocates for testing conducted by independent organizations, following methods that produce honest, factual results. While other brands claim to have eliminated the coronavirus using virus substitutes or intermediates, Blueair’s testing methods are more rigorous. The brand leveraged its expertise with cutting-edge technology in a biosafety laboratory, using live SARS-CoV-2 virus.

HealthProtect™ Purifiers testing process for COVID-19

The testing journey

First, one of the few global laboratories capable of handling live aerosolized coronavirus tests had to be identified: MRIGlobal, based in the United States. This accredited biosafety laboratory has proven its safety and expertise by conducting scientific and technical research for government and industry partners, such as the DOD, CDC, EPA, and NIH.

Capturing live SARS-CoV-2 virus particles

To test the virus elimination capabilities, a Blueair HealthProtect™ 7410i air purifier was placed inside a Class III biological safety cabinet, with a volume of 0.37 m³. Although the 7400 series models are AHAM Verifide® certified for rooms up to 38 m², the test area size was limited by safety protocols associated with the volume of aerosolized viral particles allowed【3】.

A solution of live viral particles was pressurized (a process known as aerosolization) using a nebulizer to generate fine particles similar to respiratory droplets emitted by an infected person. These droplets can remain suspended in the air for several hours【4】.

Part 1: Measuring airborne Coronavirus concentrations without an air purifier

To assess the amount of virus in the air without an air purifier, 3 tests were conducted with the air purifier turned off inside the biosafety cabinet. Viral particles were released into the area using a pressurized device, turning the particles into an aerosolized mist. A fan was then used to distribute this mist for 10 minutes to ensure an even distribution throughout the room’s volume. After 5 minutes, the concentration of coronavirus particles in the air was measured by sampling. The average of 3 samples served as the baseline measurement.

Part 2: Measuring virus removal from the air by air purifiers

In the second phase, the same process was repeated 3 times, this time turning on the air purifier after the 10 minutes of ventilation. As with the 3 baseline tests, air samples were taken after 5 minutes to measure the concentration of aerosolized coronavirus particles. The average of these 3 samples provided the measure of particle reduction or elimination.

Compared to the baseline measurements, the results showed that 99.99% of aerosolized live SARS-CoV-2 was eliminated from the air in the test chamber.

For more information on ventilation and the circulation of purified air to reduce coronavirus exposure, please consult the guidelines and advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency【5】.

When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses found in homes or enclosed spaces.

[1] CDC, “Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Potential Airborne Transmission,” October 2020.

[2] HealthProtect™ 7400 series air purifier tested for a volume of 0.37 m³. It has not been proven to destroy SARS-CoV-2 or reduce or prevent COVID-19 transmission.

[3] Results obtained for a test volume of 0.37 m³ cannot be extrapolated to larger rooms.

[4] CDC, “Ventilation in Buildings,” December 21, 2020.

[5] EPA, “Will an Air Cleaner or Air Purifier Help Protect Me and My Family from COVID-19 in My Home?” January 12, 2021.