The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in shortages of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for frontline workers in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Industry has responded with a rapid expansion of companies manufacturing PPE equipment. The pandemic and explosion of manufacturers highlighted the need for a consistent way to identify that the PPE relied on by the most at-risk workers, meets all relevant safety standards. In response to this need, CSA Group has opened the first laboratory to offer both testing and certification for a range of medical PPE intended for use in Canada. The testing and certification program may help ensure that the medical PPE meets safety, environmental and operating performance standards required for the Canadian market.

CSA Group now offers manufacturers both testing and certification of;

• Medical gloves
• Medical gowns and drapes
• Medical masks
• Respirators
• Face shields

The testing and certification required varies by the type of PPE. We test and certify medical PPE to CSA, ASTM, AAMI, and CFR standards.

Note: All applicable standards are used for both certification and testing of products unless stated otherwise.

CSA Group tests various medical PPE according to CSA, ASTM, AAMI and CFR standards. We evaluate the characteristics and performance of the medical PPE as outlined below.

CSA group tests various medical PPE according to CSA, ASTM, AAMI and CFR standards. In addition to testing and performance evaluation, as outlined below, factory audits and on-going conformity tests are conducted to help ensure that manufacturers are maintaining a good quality management system that produces products of consistent quality meeting the applicable standards.