Last week we had the pleasure of a visit from members of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) – President and CEO Kenny Mendez, Sanaz Eftekhari, Chief Business Development Officer at AAFA, and AAFA board member, Alex Buzby.
Due to the pandemic, it had been a number of years since we had the privilege of hosting our partners in the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program so it was a heartwarming reunion when we finally had the opportunity to welcome them back to Dublin.
Airmid Health Group Receives a Visit from AAFA
The AAFA team visits the AHG lab
The highlight of the trip was a guided tour through one of the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program’s designated laboratories – Airmid Health Group (AHG), where Chief Technical Officer Angela Southey brought the visiting team on a walkthrough of the cutting-edge facilities.
The tour showcased the specialized testing chambers and laboratories. Utilized for assessing the effectiveness of portable air cleaners in eliminating allergens, viruses, and bacteria and boasting advanced technology to finely control air changes, temperature, and humidity, the chambers are equipped with HEPA filtered air supply and exhaust vents. This complies with ASHRAE 241 requirements for infectious particle testing and is customizable for specific client needs.
One of the chambers hosts an automated vacuum test rig for Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification, while another is optimized for VOC testing of air cleaners. The smallest walk-in chamber evaluates cabin air cleaner efficacy against airborne pollen.
Kenny Mendez examines bed bugs
A comprehensive range of bed bug testing services are conducted in a specialised chamber under controlled conditions. The allergen lab houses a Modified Dust Trap setup and ELISA analysis for assessing bedding components’ barrier efficacy against various allergens, while the virology & microbiology lab handles viruses and bacteria in Class 2 Biosafety Cabinets.
This type of high-tech testing laboratory is crucial to the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, as products must be stringently tested against strict standards to achieve the certification. Unlike products that claim to be “hypoallergenic” but have not been submitted for testing, Certified products can be trusted by the consumer.
Collaboration and Growth
C/W from L-R: Leah McInerney, Dr. John McKeon, Alex Buzby, Kenny Mendez, Emma Gribbon, Dave Morrissey, Sanaz Eftekhari
Jennifer Whelan, COO at Allergy Standards, expertly led the AAFA visit which included strategy and planning sessions to grow the Certification Program. The team reviewed past performance metrics and identified areas for improvement, setting clear objectives and timelines for implementation. Through brainstorming and constructive feedback, the teams cemented their commitment to collective goals, ensuring a unified approach towards achieving success.
And of course, after a productive day of discussions and negotiations, a visit to Dublin wouldn’t have been complete without a pint of Guinness.
Key Words
AAFA, allergies, asthma, Asthma & Allergy Friendly®, Allergy Standards, Dr. John McKeon, indoor air quality, indoor environment, healthy air, certification, partners, Dublin, visit