Respiratory Protection Fit Test (Qualitative vs. Quantitative)

Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test. It uses the employee's sense of taste or smell (or their reaction to an irritant) to detect respirator facepiece leakage. Qualitative fit testing does not measure the actual amount of leakage: it just tests if the respirator passes or fails the test based on the employee noting leakage of the substance.

OSHA allows these substances for qualitative testing:

• Isoamyl acetate. Employees will smell a banana odor.
• Saccharin. Employees will notice a sweet taste in their mouth.
• Bitrex. Employees will notice a bitter taste in their mouth.
• Irritant smoke. Employees may begin coughing.

Quantitative fit testing uses a machine that measures the leakage into the facepiece. It does not require one's sense of taste, smell, or irritation in order to detect leaks.

For this testing, respirators connect to a machine by a hose. This machine measures the amount of leakage.

See OSHA's page on Respirator Testing for more information.

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