In response to the alcohol-based hand sanitiser quality incidents reported across the globe, the US Pharmacopeia (USP) is offering free access to USP-NF standards, information and on-demand education related to producing quality alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Additionally, USP is hosting a global seminar series, Ensuring Quality Hand Sanitizer Production During COVID-19, bringing together leading experts from regulatory agencies, public health institutions and industry to discuss challenges associated with quality alcohol-based hand sanitiser and provide additional resources to produce (including ingredients such as alcohol), label, package, and distribute quality alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

COVID-19-related supply chain pressures have created global shortages that led to new vendors, materials and production pathways to meet demand. These fast-paced changes have caused an emergence of quality incidents both regionally and globally. Globally, over 200 alcohol-based hand sanitiser quality incidents have been reported in 2020. For example, in the United States, one batch of contaminated alcohol-based hand sanitiser caused 15 cases of hospitalised methanol poisoning, which led to four patient deaths and three with visual impairments.

“Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is an important element in infection prevention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when quality is compromised, it can be less effective against infection transmission and can also lead to user harm,” said Jaap Venema, Chief Science Officer, USP. “Together, we must remain vigilant to help ensure the quality of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and support its safe use.”