Evaluation of the Quality of Commercial Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya

Abstract

The impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widespread and devastating with the World Health Organization (WHO) attributing six million deaths to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by August 2022. Since a definitive cure has yet to be developed, the focus remains on controlling the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Frequent hand washing is considered the gold standard in controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as other pathogens. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) are an effective alternative to the use of soap and water in maintaining hand hygiene. The recommended alcohol concentration range in ABHS is 60% - 95% v/v. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of commercially available alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the Nairobi Metropolitan area. The products were assessed on whether they met the specifications of the regulating authority; the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), including appearance, packaging and labelling requirements, alcohol content, and pH. In addition to this the identity of the volatiles present was determined. A total of 122 commercially available ABHS were purchased through incidental sampling in the smallest pack size available at retail outlets. On a visual inspection, 77 (63%) samples met the packaging and labelling specifications. Identification of the volatiles present was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) where methanol was detected in 26 (21.3%) samples that were locally manufactured. From GC-MS analysis, about 61 (50%) samples analyzed showed that the volatiles identified corresponded to those indicated on the label. Quantification of the alcohol content was performed by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) whereof 54 (44.3%) samples were found to have alcohol in the recommended range of 60% - 95% v/v. Thus, 68 (55.7%) products had alcohol content that could not exert the desired microbicidal activity upon use. In 7 (5.7%) samples, none of the permitted alcohols were detected suggesting they could be substandard/falsified products. Methanol contamination was detected in 16 (13.1%) samples while methanol substitution was detected in 10 (8.2%) samples.