The 3M Aura is a line of disposable N95 respirators with a unique boat-style design produced by the 3M Company. Outside of the United States, 3M Auras are sold as FFP2 or FFP3 respirators.
3M Aura may have higher fit test pass rates than typical disposable N95 respirators; this means an individual wearing it may be more likely to have a correct fit in the absence of a formal fit test.
In the United States, 3M appears to manufacture the following models of the Aura (as of 2021-8):
- 3M Aura 9205+
- 3M Aura 9211+ (exhalation valve model)
- 3M Aura 9210+
- 3M Aura 1870 (FDA cleared for surgical mask use)
- 3M Aura 1870+ (FDA cleared for surgical mask use)
Discontinued 3M Aura models (incomplete list):
- 3M Aura 9210, discontinued "effective October 1, 2014."
- 3M Aura 9211
- The 3M Aura 1870 was discontinued as of March 31, 2015. It was replaced by the 1870+
According to a trademark filing, the first use in commerce of "Aura" by 3M was in January of 2012, so that may be when the Aura line was first released (USPTO trademark serial # 85240142).
The 3M Aura design is reminiscent of the "boat-style" KF94 masks.
Fit test pass rate
The 3M Aura respirators appear to have a higher fit test pass rate than most traditional N95 designs (e.g. cup-style). This means that the average person putting on a 3M Aura may be more likely to achieve < 1% inward leakage (~ 99% effective filtration) when wearing the 3M Aura than with other N95 designs. Note that studies show that with traditional N95 designs most people (76-86%) get to around 10% or less inward leakage (~ 99% effective filtration).
In a study in untrained individuals, the 3M Aura 1862+ had a fit test pass rate of 82.5%, whereas the typical N95 cup-style respirators had pass rates of 73%, 67%, and 23% (and the KN95 had a pass rate of 0%). In a small study of 60 anaesthetists, the 3M Aura 1870+ had a 5/5 (100%) pass rate, compared to a pass rate of 3/7 (43%) for the 3M 8210 (typical N95 cup style) and a pass rate of 1/9 (11%) for other typical N95 respirators.
In 2021, 3M conducted a study of fit test pass rates in their lab and found a 93% pass rate on the three common 3M Aura models. 3M chose study participants with a range of face shapes (NIOSH Bivariate panel).
Counterfeits
Due to widespread demand from the COVID-19 pandemic and the popularity of the respirator series, the 3M Auras have been frequently counterfeit. On July 14th 2021, 3M issued a counterfeit alert, noting that millions of counterfeit 3M Auras had been seized; in this case, the 3M Aura 1870+.
- "Millions of Counterfeit N95 Masks Were Bought in 5 States, U.S. Says" - New York Times article, 2021-2-10. Article notes the fakes looked like good counterfeits.
- "WSHA: Hundreds of thousands of counterfeit N95 masks purchased by Washington hospitals" - 2021-2-7 news article.
The counterfeit 3M Auras often look nearly indistinguishable from the legitimate 3M products but fail to provide the protection of the genuine product. Aaron Collins, an individual with a background in aerosol science, performed a home quantitative fit test on a counterfeit 3M 1870+ and found it had a filtration efficiency of 94% on his test aerosol. In comparison, when he tested a (more likely) genuine 1870+ he found a filtration efficacy of 99.3%.
Modifications
Modifications to the respirator aren't recommended and will void NIOSH or other approvals. That being said, some find it useful to modify the 3M Auras for different purposes.
Reddit user electricpete converted his 3M 9205+ into an earloop-style mask "by cutting the loops in the center and then fastening the top and bottom ones together on each side with a silicone cord lock." (reddit comment)
Reddit user jackspratdodat created a guide to making a 3M Aura 9205+ into a "lanyard loop" mask that is designed to be easier for those who wear hearing aids to put on and take off.
