Washington, D.C. – The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), the leading organization and collective voice of medical imaging and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, innovators, and product developers, today released the following statement in response to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration- issued safety notification on mask wearing during MRI examinations:

"The COVID19 pandemic impacts the way diagnostic imaging examinations are performed. Particularly, patients may need to wear masks during the examination, which may impose hazards in the MR environment. The U.S. FDA issued a safety notification (https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/wear-face-masks-no-metal-during-mri-exams-fda-safety-communication) to remind patients and providers not to wear any metal during the MR examination. MITA fully supports this reminder and reinforces the instructions for use with MR systems:

Check clothing for the presence of metal pieces, strips, or woven micro fabric
Recommend use of hospital supplied gowns and masks (for which safety is established by the hospital) in all cases
Check with the mask manufacturer that no metallic nano particles or fabric is included in any of the layers of the mask"

MITA is a Division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.