Quality of commercial alcohol-based hand sanitizers marketed in Kampala, Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In the year 2020, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) became a global public health emergency. The World Health Organization recommended wearing of masks, regular hand washing with soap or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent human-to-human transmission of the disease. As a result, there was a rapid proliferation of hand sanitizers in the market, leading to concerns about the quality of these products. This study aimed to conduct a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of commercial alcohol-based hand sanitizers marketed in Kampala, Uganda. Commercial products (130) were sampled from five divisions of Kampala city and assessed for appearance, packaging, labelling and conformity with regulator’s mark of quality. Additionally, the pH of the samples was determined. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and flame ionization detectors were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the alcohol-based hand sanitizers, respectively. Only 15 samples (12%) met all the specifications for appearance, packaging, labelling, and regulation characteristics assessed. Alcohol was detected in 128 samples (98%). The permitted alcohols detected in the samples were ethanol (86%), isopropyl alcohol (4%) and ethanol/isopropyl alcohol admixture (3%). However, samples containing methanol, either alone (4%) or mixed with ethanol (1.5%) were encountered. Isopropyl alcohol was found as a denaturant in only one sample contrary to the label claims in seven samples. Twenty-two samples (17%) had a different alcohol from that declared on the label. Seventy-eight samples (60%) had alcohol content within the requisite range of 60-95% v/v while forty-two had less than 60% v/v alcohol, and one contained more than 95% v/v. Sixty-seven samples did not comply with the specifications for pH. The results obtained from the study underscore the need for market surveillance of these products.