M Series vs KN95 Masks: What are the differences? Which is better for school, travel and other outdoor activities?

What are M Series Face Masks? How is it different than KN95 or N95 masks? 

And are M Series face masks effective against Covid? We break down what you need to know, before making any purchasing decision.

Both M Series masks and KN95 masks are made from multiple layers, usually at least 4 layers, of polypropylene material and are designed to be worn over the mouth and nose. Both masks must filter out and capture 95 percent of tiny 0.3 micron particles in the air (hence the “95” in the names, but additionally, M Series series masks have five layers).

The main difference lies between where these masks are certified.

M Series masks are tested by Nelson and Eurofins Labs, independent US based laboratories, have undergone ASTM Level 3 Barrier (international standard) testing for both flammability and synthetic blood penetration resistance, clearing at Class 1 and ASTM Level 3 standards respectively. M Series masks have one of the best filtration efficiency of 99+% as seen from the lab results posted below, providing the great protection against Covid and other particles. These masks are manufactured by Breathh, Inc. an MI Technologies Inc. company, FDA Registration No. 3017171515 —with ISO 9001:2015 compliance.

KN95 is Chinese Standard and commonly made and used in China. Note that these certifications only refer to the country in which the standards and regulations were created, not where the masks are made. Most N95 masks are still made in China.

According to one of the published reports, a whopping 70% of Chinese KN95 masks did not meet US Standards of filtration efficiency. The researchers at ECRI found that 60 to 70 percent of imported KN95 masks did not filter 95% of aerosol particulates, the basis for the very name of the product.

Which masks you should choose for travel and basic protection? We recommend to choose the face masks with highest BFE (bacterial filtration efficiency) to be on safer side. Lutema M Series face masks series provides best protection as can be seen from the lab reports. Note that these are not medical grade masks and does not guarantee full protection against viruses. Measures like social distancing, washing your hands and refraining from touching your face are still recommended. 

✅ The Testing

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) certification demonstrates compliance to Level 3 barrier protection standards! We have tests for all of our products located on the product page. These tests are for our regular 3-ply masks Model No. M3PFM  — additional testing and information can be found on the product pages.

Updated October 14, 2020 

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)