As the world hopes and waits to find a vaccine or anti-viral drug for coronavirus cure, hand hygiene remains the most potent way to keep oneself safe and prevent the spread of the virus. This has led to a massive surge in demand for hand sanitizers and various manufacturers have used a range of sanitisation product formulations to develop sanitizers crucial to prevent virus spread. As the crisis spirals out of control, the demand for hand sanitizer is predicted to be remain for a long time.

In such a situation, it has been observed that there are chances for sub-standard products to reach the market. This is a serious safety concern as the precious lives of people depend on high-quality and effective hand sanitizers. For example, there are hand sanitizers in the market which contains methanol. Now it is important to note that methanol is a toxic alcohol type which causes several negative health effects. This includes serious diseases and conditions like nausea, vomiting, headache, blindness, seizure and nervous system damage. 

Also, there are two types of hand sanitizers which are present everywhere in the world; alcohol-based and non-alcohol. The health experts have urged people to use alcohol-based sanitizers as it is effective to inactive coronavirus, thus preventing infection and spread of the disease. On the other hand, non-alcohol based sanitizer is not effective against coronavirus. So, you must use alcohol-based sanitizer instead of non-alcohol ones during Covid-19.

Among the alcohol-based sanitizers, various formulations were considered effective and used by people at large. However, there was no hard evidence till recently that proved that sanitizers eliminate SARS CoV-2 virus that causes coronavirus. This is where WHO-recommended hand sanitizer formulations with guidelines provided more clarity on this regard. 

Based on factors like easy accessibility for the people, the safety of the individual and features like fast-action, broad-spectrum and microbial activity, WHO has recommended two formulations. These formulations were effectively used to act against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which are related to SARS-CoV-2. Many researchers have since then evaluated the effectiveness of different formulations which are as follows:

1st Sanitizer Formulation 

Ethanol — 80% by volume (vol/vol) 

Glycerine — 1.45% vol/vol 

Hydrogen peroxide — 0.125% vol/vol 

2nd Sanitizer Formulation

Isopropanol 75% vol/vol 

Glycerine — 1.45% vol/vol 

Hydrogen peroxide — 0.125% vol/vol

However, it did not meet the European norm 1500. After testing and experimenting with formulations using ethanol and 2-propanol for virucidal activity, the scientist in Germany and Switzerland have found them to inactivate the coronavirus. The study was found in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The following modification was done in the formulation:

1st Sanitizer Formulation 

Ethanol — 80% by volume (vol/vol) 

Glycerine — 0.725% vol/vol 

Hydrogen peroxide — 0.125% vol/vol 

2nd Sanitizer Formulation

Isopropanol 75% vol/vol 

Glycerine — 0.725% vol/vol 

Hydrogen peroxide — 0.125% vol/vol

Both the formulations were made to act on the virus particles for a time duration of 30 seconds. Subsequently, the virus was tested to infect cells in lab cultures, the result found that the virus is inactivated. It is important to note that findings are based on the assumption that sanitizer formulation and ingredients were in contact with coronavirus for a minimum of 30 seconds. 

Therefore, it is necessary that people buy hand sanitizers which are made with high-quality ingredients and medical equipment under the sharp observation of professional medical experts and avoid home-made sanitizer. Rubicon Consumer Healthcare with 20+ years of professional experience in speciality pharmaceutical product development has developed highly efficient medical product and solutions. Steriva Instant Hand sanitizer with WHO recommended formula and 80% alcohol content is highly effective against coronavirus and kills 99.99% germs.