Testing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for First Responders

July 21, 2026 updated by: Kurt Zatloukal, Medical University of Graz
The purpose of this pilot study is to improve protection of first responders in case of biological disasters (e.g., pandemics, biotoxin incidents). For this goal we will compare two different kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used for a variety of exercises simulating activities of first responders in the field at two different environmental temperature profiles in a randomized cross-over study design. The goal is to find the best possible compromise between protection and ergonomics as well as to determine potential factors that might limit the performance of first responders while wearing PPE. This should provide guidance for future improvement of PPE and how biosensors for monitoring heart rate and body temperature in combination with AI models may reduce risk for first responders in the field.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

During three cycles of simulated work physiological parameters such as heart rate, body temperature and fluid loss as well as fine motor skills, error rate and reaction time will be monitored, complemented with a questionnaire on comfort and wellbeing after each cycle.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

12

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Austria
    • Styria
      • Graz, Styria, Austria, 8010
        • Recruiting
        • Medical University of Graz

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

The study will be open to employees or students of:

  • the KAGES hospital, Graz, Austria
  • the Medical University of Graz (Med Uni Graz), Austria
  • the University of Graz, Austria
  • the Red Cross
  • the Police
  • Fire brigade of the city of Graz

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy, allergy against latex or PVC, claustrophobia, acute infection, thrombophilia
  • Chronic illnesses (not treated) such as asthma, COPD, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and epilepsy,
  • Participation in another study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Simulated tasks performed at 20-24°C
Participants wearing Category III PPE suit 1 or 2 perform 3 cycles of 6 tasks at 20-24°C
Other: Category III PPE suit "COMAT (Matisec, France)"
3 cycles of 6 different tasks at 2 different temperatures will be performed wearing the following Category III PPE suit: COMAT from Matisec, France. This suit will be worn with a face mask (Draeger) equipped with a P3 filter, as well as rubber boots and 2 layers of nitrile gloves.
Other: Category III PPE Suit "EBO-10 (EGO, Czech Republic)"
3 cycles of 6 different tasks at 2 different temperatures will be performed wearing the following Category III PPE suit: EBO-10 from EGO, Czech Republic. This suit is a full body ventilated suit with powered air purifying respirators, and will be worn with rubber boots and 2 layers of nitrile gloves.
Experimental: Simulated tasks performed at 30-34°C
Participants wearing Category III PPE suit 1 or 2 perform 3 cycles of 6 tasks at 30-34°C
Other: Category III PPE suit "COMAT (Matisec, France)"
3 cycles of 6 different tasks at 2 different temperatures will be performed wearing the following Category III PPE suit: COMAT from Matisec, France. This suit will be worn with a face mask (Draeger) equipped with a P3 filter, as well as rubber boots and 2 layers of nitrile gloves.
Other: Category III PPE Suit "EBO-10 (EGO, Czech Republic)"
3 cycles of 6 different tasks at 2 different temperatures will be performed wearing the following Category III PPE suit: EBO-10 from EGO, Czech Republic. This suit is a full body ventilated suit with powered air purifying respirators, and will be worn with rubber boots and 2 layers of nitrile gloves.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Body weight
Time Frame: Baseline and at completion/termination (max. 6 hours after start)
Mean change in body weight (kg) after completion/termination of the test
Baseline and at completion/termination (max. 6 hours after start)
Heart rate
Time Frame: Baseline, continuously during the test, and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Heart rate is measured using a blood pressure cuff before and after the test, as well as using sensors strapped next to the skin during the test.
Baseline, continuously during the test, and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Blood pressure
Time Frame: Baseline and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Blood pressure is measured using a blood pressure cuff.
Baseline and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Weight of Category III PPE suit
Time Frame: Baseline and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Weight of suit in kg at before and after the test to assess fluid loss.
Baseline and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Body temperature
Time Frame: Baseline, during the test, and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Body temperature in °C is measured using an in-ear thermometer before and after the test, as well as using sensors next to the skin during the test.
Baseline, during the test, and after completion of test (max 6 hours)
Humidity
Time Frame: For the duration of the test (max 6 hours)
Humidity is measured using sensors next to the skin.
For the duration of the test (max 6 hours)
Mean reaction time
Time Frame: 10 minutes
Reaction time is measured using the ReactionX app, with 4 sensors that light up intermittently.
10 minutes
Semi-quantitative questionnaire on subjective wellbeing
Time Frame: 5 min
The questionnaire uses a scale of 0-10 and is the last task in each of the 3 cycles of 6 tasks.
5 min
Resilience scale questionnaire RS-13
Time Frame: 5 min
The internationally standardized questionnaire assesses psychological stress level, using a scale of 0-7 (do not agree - completely agree). It is completed before starting the test, and after completion or termination of test (after max 6 hours).
5 min
Error rate
Time Frame: Max 20 min
Error rate is assessed by matching coloured and numbered caps to matching tubes and sorting them into predefined positions into a 81-position sample box. Number of errors is documented.
Max 20 min
Fine motor skills
Time Frame: Max 20 min
Fine motor skills are assessed by matching coloured and numbered caps to matching tubes and sorting them into predefined positions in an 81-position sample box. Time needed to complete the task is documented.
Max 20 min

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Medical University of Graz

Collaborators

European Union

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kurt Zatloukal, Med Uni Graz

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 21, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1168_2026
  • 101168322 - EMBRACE (Other Grant/Funding Number: EUROPEAN RESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY (REA))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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