Alvera PureGuard Universal In-Line Bacteria Filter for CPAP and BiPAP Machines, 1, 5 or 10 Pack
An in-line bacteria filter sits between the machine outlet and the hose, and it does something the machine's own inlet filter cannot. The inlet filter cleans room air on the way in. The in-line filter guards the boundary between the machine and the wearer, catching bacteria and fine particulate in the airflow and, just as importantly, stopping anything travelling back down the tube toward the blower. That matters in three situations in particular: where a machine is shared between users in a clinical setting, where the wearer has a respiratory infection and the circuit would otherwise be contaminated, and where a machine is loaned, hired or sold on. It is also the cheapest way to protect an expensive device from the inside. Select 1, 5 or 10 pack from the options on this page.
What is included
| Item | Detail | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| PureGuard in-line filter | One, five or ten filters depending on the pack size selected | NEW |
What is not included
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy machine | CPAP or bi-level machine | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Tubing | Standard or heated tubing | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Mask and headgear | Any interface | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Machine inlet filters | The filters fitted inside the machine, a separate item | SOLD SEPARATELY |
Single use, and check for flow resistance
- These filters are single use. Do not wash, rinse, dry out or reuse one. A washed filter no longer filters to specification and can restrict airflow.
- Fit a fresh filter and dispose of the used one. Renew immediately if it becomes wet, visibly soiled or discoloured.
- An in-line filter adds a small amount of resistance to the circuit. Where therapy pressure feels different after fitting one, the pressure setting should be reviewed by the service responsible for the wearer's care rather than adjusted independently.
- Confirm both ends are fully seated before use. A partial connection leaks pressure and the therapy is not delivered as set.
- Do not use a filter that is crushed, split or has been dropped in water.
What an in-line filter is for
Most people running therapy at home never need one. The machine's inlet filter handles room air, the circuit belongs to one person, and nothing crosses between users. The in-line filter earns its place at the points where that assumption breaks.
Shared or loaned machines. In a clinical setting, a hire fleet or a family where a machine passes between people, the circuit is the shared surface. An in-line filter at the machine outlet, changed between users, is the standard way of protecting the device and the next wearer.
During a respiratory infection. A chest infection or a cold puts organisms into the circuit every night. A filter at the outlet keeps them out of the blower, where nobody can clean them, and reduces the amount of contamination that has to be dealt with once the infection clears.
Protecting the machine. Anything that gets into a blower stays there. An in-line filter is a few pounds against a machine that costs several hundred, and it is the only barrier that works in the direction that matters.
Higher exposure environments. Building dust, smoke, heavy pollen or a house with several pets all load a circuit faster than a clean bedroom.
Key features
Check the circuit before ordering
This filter is designed for standard CPAP and bi-level circuits taking a conventional hose connection at the machine outlet. It is not intended for AirMini travel machines, which use a narrow proprietary hose and a mask-specific setup pack with no conventional outlet connection. Where the machine or the circuit arrangement is not certain, ask before ordering with the machine model to hand.
Specification
| Brand | Alvera |
| Product | PureGuard universal in-line bacteria filter |
| Reference, 1 pack | 58501 |
| GTIN, 1 pack | 5065027735576 |
| Reference, 5 pack | 58505 |
| GTIN, 5 pack | 5065027735583 |
| Reference, 10 pack | 58510 |
| GTIN, 10 pack | 5065027735590 |
| Pack sizes | 1, 5 or 10, selected on this page |
| Product type | In-line bacteria filter for therapy circuits |
| Position in circuit | Between the machine outlet and the hose |
| Fits | Standard CPAP and bi-level circuits |
| Does not fit | AirMini travel machines |
| Reuse | Single use, disposable, not washable |
| Supplied | Non-sterile |
| Condition | New |
Specification limited to what is confirmed
Filtration efficiency, filter medium, connector sizes, flow resistance and service life are not stated here pending confirmation against the production record and the manufacturer test data, and should not be assumed from the description above. Ask before ordering if any of these figures is needed, and in particular where a filtration efficiency figure is required for an infection control policy.
Care and renewal
| Action | Detail | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect | Check the filter for wetness, soiling, discolouration and crushing | Daily |
| Check the connection | Confirm both ends are fully seated and the circuit holds pressure | Before each use |
| Renew | Fit a fresh filter at the interval given in the instructions, and immediately if it is wet, soiled or damaged | Per instructions |
| Between users | Fit a fresh filter whenever the machine passes to a different person | Every change of user |
| During infection | Renew more frequently while a respiratory infection is present, and fit a fresh filter once it clears | As required |
| Dispose | Dispose of used filters per local policy. Do not wash or reuse | At every change |
The above is general guidance. The instructions supplied with the filter and with the machine take precedence, and in a clinical setting the operating organisation's infection control policy governs.
Alvera range
Alvera is the own-brand accessory range from Elarix Medical, covering the consumables that sleep therapy depends on and that need renewing on a schedule. PureGuard covers in-line bacteria filters, alongside PureFlow machine filters, AirGuard filter covers, AirLink connectors and adapters, AirStrap headgear and clips, ThermaAir heated tubing, AirFlex tubing, AquaPure water chambers, AirSoft cushions and PureWipe cleaning wipes. Products are individually referenced and barcoded, so a repeat order is placed against a code rather than a description.
