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(7) Bending over. The test subject shall bend wearing a respirator, is intended to determine if
at the waist as if he/she were to touch his/ the individual tested can detect the odor of
her toes. Jogging in place shall be substituted isoamyl acetate at low levels.
for this exercise in those test environments
such as shroud type QNFT or QLFT units (1) Three 1 liter glass jars with metal lids are re-
that do not permit bending over at the waist. quired.
(8) Normal breathing. Same as exercise (1). (2) Odor-free water (e.g., distilled or spring wa-
ter) at approximately 25 deg. C (77 deg. F) shall
(b) Each test exercise shall be performed for be used for the solutions.
one minute except for the grimace exercise
which shall be performed for 15 seconds. The (3) The isoamyl acetate (IAA) (also known at iso-
test subject shall be questioned by the test pentyl acetate) stock solution is prepared by add-
conductor regarding the comfort of the respi- ing 1 ml of pure IAA to 800 ml of odor-free water
rator upon completion of the protocol. If it in a 1 liter jar, closing the lid and shaking for 30
has become unacceptable, another model of seconds. A new solution shall be prepared at
respirator shall be tried. The respirator shall least weekly.
not be adjusted once the fit test exercises be-
gin. Any adjustment voids the test, and the (4) The screening test shall be conducted in a
fit test must be repeated. room separate from the room used for actual fit
testing. The two rooms shall be well-ventilated to
B. Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT) Protocols prevent the odor of IAA from becoming evident
in the general room air where testing takes place.
1. General
(5) The odor test solution is prepared in a sec-
(a) The employer shall ensure that persons ad- ond jar by placing 0.4 ml of the stock solution
ministering QLFT are able to prepare test solu- into 500 ml of odor-free water using a clean
tions, calibrate equipment and perform tests dropper or pipette. The solution shall be
properly, recognize invalid tests, and ensure shaken for 30 seconds and allowed to stand for
that test equipment is in proper working order. two to three minutes so that the IAA concentra-
tion above the liquid may reach equilibrium.
(b) The employer shall ensure that QLFT This solution shall be used for only one day.
equipment is kept clean and well maintained
so as to operate within the parameters for (6) A test blank shall be prepared in a third jar
which it was designed. by adding 500 cc of odor-free water.
2. Isoamyl Acetate Protocol (7) The odor test and test blank jar lids shall be
labeled (e.g., 1 and 2) for jar identification. La-
Note: This protocol is not appropriate to use bels shall be placed on the lids so that they can
for the fit testing of particulate respirators. If be peeled off periodically and switched to
used to fit test particulate respirators, the respi- maintain the integrity of the test.
rator must be equipped with an organic vapor
filter. (8) The following instruction shall be typed on
a card and placed on the table in front of the
(a) Odor Threshold Screening two test jars (i.e., 1 and 2): “The purpose of this
test is to determine if you can smell banana oil
Odor threshold screening, performed without at a low concentration. The two bottles in front
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