Quality Assessment of Some Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Circulating in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Nigeria

Abstract Background The emergence of corona virus disease caused by SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19) and the subsequent recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the use of non-pharmaceutical measures led to an upsurge in the production and sale of hand sanitizers across the globe including Nigeria. It is important that product regulation schemes are designed in such a way as to ensure the continual quality of the products to potential clients. Hence, this paper provides an understanding of the quality of alcohol based hand sanitizers in Abuja, Nigeria. Methods A total of fifty (50) different brands of alcohol-based hand sanitizers were purchased from different pharmacies, supermarkets, and stores, within Abuja. In the laboratory, samples were checked for their label claims, NAFDAC registration number, batch number, manufacturing and expiration dates. The information was recorded in the laboratory notebook in accordance with ISO 17025 requirement, then samples were coded as SAN1 to SAN50 and assessed for pH values and Alcohol Content. Results About 40% of the circulating hand sanitizers in the market did not go through regulatory vetting, 34% of the products did not have information on the country of manufacture, 32% of the sanitizers had pH values within acceptable range, while 78% of the products contained less than 60% alcohol. Conclusion This study gives an insight into the quality of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and we suggest an urgent need for the regulatory authorities of developing countries to enhance their surveillance and control of these substandard products in the society.