Quality of Alcohol-based Hand Sanitiser for Donated During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is necessary for people during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic, which Sanamchaikhet Hospital received a large amount of donated alcohol-based hand Sanitiser.

Purpose: To examine the quality of donated alcohol-based hand sanitiser in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic at Sanamchaikhet Hospital, Chachoengsao province.

Methods: This study was a quantitative study. The data were collected from 84 samples/brand based on labels and standard test results of the donated alcohol-based hand sanitisers at Sanamchaikhet Hospital in Chachoengsao province between 1 June and 30 November 2020, during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. The samples containing 50 to 1000 ml were stored in suitable locations where the temperature did not exceed 30 °C without direct sunlight and were not activated prior to testing. The following three qualifications must be met in order for the alcohol-based hand sanitiser to meet rules and regulations: (1) the product labels must contain accurate statements in accordance with the Notifications of the Cosmetics Committee Re: Cosmetic Products Labeling B.E. 2562 (2018) and practice guidelines and labeling requirements of alcohol-based hand sanitiser from 9 March 2020 onwards; (2) be notified in accordance with the Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558 (2015); and (3) 3-in-1 Alcohol Test Kit was used to analyze test results of the standard of the donated alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Results: It was found that 20.24% of the samples were of good quality, 73.81% of the samples were not of quality, and 5.95% of the results were inconclusive because the concentration of isopropyl alcohol was unknown. The top three topics on the label were incorrect: 68.52% did not specify the production number or letter, 42.59% indicated the wrong registration number, 42.59% indicated the name of the disease or the name of various pathogens or conveyed the message that it was safe from germs 33.33%. In addition, when examining the notification information from the database, it was found that 69.05% of the sample group had the notification status of the sample who registered incorrectly and that the notification receipt number was not specified at 16.67%, 13.95% were in the process of canceling the notification, and 1.19% were not found in the Food and Drug Administration database. The samples' standard test results revealed that 47.62% passed the standard, 36.90% did not pass the standard, with the samples containing less than 70% ethyl alcohol by volume at 33.33%, containing methyl alcohol, and a substance prohibited for use in cosmetics ingredients at 3.57%.

Conclusion: The study suggested problems related to the distribution of alcohol-based hand Sanitisers that did not meet the standards set by rules and regulations, namely, incorrect label invalid registration and the concentration and type of alcohol is not up to the standard required by law which cannot effectively disinfect and can be harmful to consumers. Hence,it is necessary to monitor quality of donated alcohol-based hand to ensure safety and effectiveness.