Quality evaluation of commercial alcohol-based hand sanitizers in Nairobi, Kenya: A post COVID-19 pandemic survey

Abstract

The global public health impact of COVID-19 necessitated multifaceted approaches such as use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) to control transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study evaluated compliance with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) specification of commercially available alcohol-based hand sanitizers purchased from selected retail outlets in the Nairobi metropolitan area. Out of the 122 samples analyzed, 63% met KEBS specifications based on visual inspection, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified methanol as a contaminant in 26% of samples. Quantification of the permitted alcohols, ethanol and isopropanol, using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) revealed that 44.3% had an alcohol content within the specified range of 60 - 95% v/v, with 5.7% containing neither alcohol. Furthermore, only 10% of samples from local manufacturers met KEBS specifications. These results highlight the need for strict monitoring and regulation of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the presence of methanol and variations in alcohol content underscore the importance of implementing comprehensive quality control measures to ensure the effectiveness and safety of these highly important public health tools.