A10 Filters--Antibacterial vs. Hypoallergenic

In a lesson on getting one's terminology correct when dealing with a DME, I had asked my DME's supply office a few weeks ago about antibacterial filters for the Resmed Airsense 10. My DME has a supply warehouse that you call for supplies and a local DME office for getting new machines and masks. The supply office said they did not carry antibacterial filters and I may be able to get them from the local office. I called the local office and left a message inquiring about antibacterial filters. Unfortunately, the RTs there are only reachable in the 8:30 -9 am time range, when I am not awake. I got a message back from the RT asking WHY IN THE WORLD I WOULD WANT ANTIBACTERIAL FILTERS. His message said to call and let him know when I wanted them. I subsequently found that what I really wanted, for the space where the regular white disposable A10 filter goes, is a HYPOALLERGENIC FILTER. Big difference. I didn't call back the local DME. I called the supply warehouse and asked if they had hypoallergenic filters.They referred me to my local DME office again.

Today, I got a shipment from the local office. This is what I wanted:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... -pack.html

This is what I got, which in real life is larger than in the picture:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -pack.html

Does anyone use the BACTERIA FILTER with an A10? If so where does it go? From my research, it appears it would go between the hose and the mask, which would be an awkward place to have such a heavy, HUGE filter.

I plan to call back the local office and ask if I can exchange these for hypoallergenic filters, or maybe even just the regular filters. Medicare allows 1 or 2 filters per month and I would think the regular disposable white ones would be changed every month. For once, when dealing with a DME, I got exactly what I asked for, but not what I wanted. Lesson learned.

EDITED to put in the correct link for Hypoallergic filters in the space for what I wanted.

MarylandCPAPer wrote:In a lesson on getting one's terminology correct ...

Today, I got a shipment from the local office. This is what I wanted:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -pack.html

This is what I got, which in real life is larger than in the picture:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -pack.html.

*giggle*
have you noticed that your link of "what I wanted" and "what I got" are the same?

Yes, I did, just before you posted, *giggle*. The first picture now shows a hypoallergenic filter. GMTA?

I'm new here. So maybe my advice, should not be taken, but here goes anyway

what about using an extension tube like can be found here
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-hose/cpap-hose-short.php

specifically this one seems best and is only $6.49
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/18-inc ... -ends.html

as long as it works, the Antibacterial should be heads and shoulders above just a Hypoallergenic filter.
here are 2 reviews i found on the product page

Not Suitable for C-Flex/A-flex
Christopher M. – May 28, 2007
While the construction is good, and I imagine it works fine on standard CPAP-BIPAP, it is not suitable for C-Flex. The filter creates an exhalation pressure differential on each side of the filter. This means that with C-flex it has significantly more exhalation pressure than normal.

Good product, but...
D. LeRoy B, ID – June 25, 2015
I was really wishing that this would work for my machine. But I had to remove it a few minutes after installing it the first night. It restricts the airflow too much and I wasn't getting the pressure I needed in order to sleep. Nothing bad about the filter itself, just too restrictive on the air flow... and now that it's opened, can't be returned. Had to go back and order the filters for the intake instead.

Ricci wrote:I'm new here. So maybe my advice, should not be taken, but here goes anyway

what about using an extension tube like can be found here
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-hose/cpap-hose-short.php

specifically this one seems best and is only $6.49
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/18-inc ... -ends.html

as long as it works, the Antibacterial should be heads and shoulders above just a Hypoallergenic filter.
here are 2 reviews i found on the product page

Not Suitable for C-Flex/A-flex
Christopher M. – May 28, 2007
While the construction is good, and I imagine it works fine on standard CPAP-BIPAP, it is not suitable for C-Flex. The filter creates an exhalation pressure differential on each side of the filter. This means that with C-flex it has significantly more exhalation pressure than normal.

Good product, but...
D. LeRoy B, ID – June 25, 2015
I was really wishing that this would work for my machine. But I had to remove it a few minutes after installing it the first night. It restricts the airflow too much and I wasn't getting the pressure I needed in order to sleep. Nothing bad about the filter itself, just too restrictive on the air flow... and now that it's opened, can't be returned. Had to go back and order the filters for the intake instead.

Thank you and welcome to the forum!! Your idea may be very helpful. I have passed on the antibacterial filters to someone deployed in the Middle East in hopes they can filter out some of the fine sand there, but I wondered if additional hoses might be needed, since this is an inline filter. Great first post!! Good luck with your treatment, and please let us know if we can help you with anything.

Leroy’s review doesn’t mention that the Airsense 10 needs you to change the setting for “AB Filter” (from ‘no’ to ‘yes’ (Or equivalent)) or the machine won’t know it’s on there. Christopher’s review doesn’t mention that either, and I’ve only used the Airsense 10, but I expect any exhalation pressure relief system’s performance has to be be affected by any filter to some degree. I don’t use to AB filter, but I understand you do have to swap it out every morning so it can dry out, so I suppose you use them in pairs to give each one a night off in between uses.

I use the Respironics version of the "what I got" antibacterial filter. They claim no pressure differential of note. I use it to filter air as it leaves the machine. I discarded the humidifier and I have no experience pumping humidifier air through the filter. As a filter it makes a noticeable improvement for me. It combs much more out of the airstream than the CPAP inlet filters IMO. For me it has reduced any congestion occasioned by allergies which are rampant in Kentucky. I bumped my lower pressure setting up one to seven on the intuition that there was pressure drop but I have no real evidence that it was necessary. They last about two months for me and when they start turning a light gray I discard. The inlet filter (fine) remains white at that point. Fairly conclusive evidence that the secondary filter scrubs better that the inlet filter.

MarylandCPAPer wrote: Today, I got a shipment from the local office. This is what I wanted:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... -pack.html

You do have another choice.

The ResMed brand Hypoallergenic Filters:
ResMed Item No. 36855 - 1 filter per pack
ResMed Item No. 36856 - 2 filters per pack

IMHO, the ResMed brand Hypoallergenic Filters are a better quality than the "generic" filters you referenced.

You are allowed 2 filters per month.
And for small items like filters, Medicare allows you to get a 3 months supply at a time.

I get 3 of the ResMed Item No. 36856 - which is 6 filters
I do this every 3 months.

Stu, where do you get those Resmed filters? I have purchased the generic hypoallergenic filters in the past and disliked them so much I threw them out. They left a strange smell in my nose that lasted all day.

AMK wrote:Stu, where do you get those Resmed filters? I have purchased the generic hypoallergenic filters in the past and disliked them so much I threw them out. They left a strange smell in my nose that lasted all day.

I get them from my local DME.

They will try to substitute a generic hypoallergenic filter.
But, I insist that I must have the ResMed brand.
Be courteous, but accept no substitutes!

I just acquired my ResMed AirCurve 10 VAUTO.

I have the "standard" ResMed filter that came with the machine, a generic "hypoallergenic" filter, and a ResMed brand "hypoallergenic" filter that the DME gave me.
Being able to compare them side by side lets you instantly tell that the ResMed brand "hypoallergenic" filter is by far a better quality.

I used to be able to find OEM ResMed hypoallergenic filters on EBay but I can't find anyone now offering name brand on EBay or Amazon...all are generic aftermarket.

I did find one place that seems to represent the product as a name brand product but I haven't ever used this supplier.
Package of 12 was $29.99.
Package of 50 was $99.99
2 pack for 4.99 but shipping is $6.00
Free shipping is only above 89.99.

I just last week asked my DME about OEM filters and they don't have any...and when I said I prefer hypo allerginic filters which are different from what he showed me...I got " they have something like that????" He didn't have a clue.
He didn't even have generic hypo allerginic filters.
I guess I need to take one in the package and show it to him.

Chilibit wrote:I use the Respironics version of the "what I got" antibacterial filter. They claim no pressure differential of note. I use it to filter air as it leaves the machine. I discarded the humidifier and I have no experience pumping humidifier air through the filter. As a filter it makes a noticeable improvement for me. It combs much more out of the airstream than the CPAP inlet filters IMO. For me it has reduced any congestion occasioned by allergies which are rampant in Kentucky. I bumped my lower pressure setting up one to seven on the intuition that there was pressure drop but I have no real evidence that it was necessary. They last about two months for me and when they start turning a light gray I discard. The inlet filter (fine) remains white at that point. Fairly conclusive evidence that the secondary filter scrubs better that the inlet filter.

It does drop a cm or two across the filter. (I've measured)

I use them for allergy purposes too.

Pugsy wrote:I just last week asked my DME about OEM filters and they don't have any...and when I said I prefer hypo allerginic filters which are different from what he showed me...I got " they have something like that????" He didn't have a clue.
He didn't even have generic hypo allerginic filters.
I guess I need to take one in the package and show it to him.

Here is the link for the most current ResMed Product List.
The hypoallergenic filters are listed on page 5 - starting with ResMed Item #36855

https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... st-usa.pdf

Do you have a ResMed brand hypoallergenic filter "in the package" to show to the DME?

StuUnderPressure wrote:Do you have a ResMed brand hypoallergenic filter "in the package" to show to the DME?

I do indeed and I plan to leave one unused filter in it when I make it over to my DME to show him...
along with a couple of the others to compare them to.
Right now he just has a decent enough aftermarket mesh filter...no fine filters of any kind generic or OEM.

If I spring for the 50 in a bag...from the supplier I found for $99 for the 50....how many people would be willing to pay $2 each for a name brand ResMed hypoallerginic filter???? Plus a little to cover mailing???
They won't be in individual bags...So you would have to take my word for it that they came out of OEM bag.

I am going to email the guy and ask if for sure ResMed original packaging.

Pugsy wrote:

StuUnderPressure wrote:Do you have a ResMed brand hypoallergenic filter "in the package" to show to the DME?

If I spring for the 50 in a bag...from the supplier I found for $99 for the 50....how many people would be willing to pay $2 each for a name brand ResMed hypoallerginic filter???? Plus a little to cover mailing???
They won't be in individual bags...So you would have to take my word for it that they came out of OEM bag.

I am going to email the guy and ask if for sure ResMed original packaging.

ResMed does indeed have a 50 pack of their brand hypoallergenic filters.
ResMed Item # 36858

So, I would think that it does come in their sealed bag.
I would be skeptical of any that do not come in the ResMed sealed bag.

The local DME prices the ones I get @ $40.33 for 6 ($6.72 each). ABSURD
Medicare discounts it to $12.06 ($2.01 each). STILL TOO MUCH