USP Develops Hand Sanitizer Toolkit in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):

Jill Murphy, Assistant Editor

The USP has developed an online toolkit using guidelines from major public health organizations.

The US Pharmacopeia (USP) has developed an online toolkit using guidelines from major public health organizations on compounding alcohol-based hand sanitizers and the preparation of hand sanitizers by manufacturers, pharmacies, and other facilities.

The toolkit includes important information from the World Health Organization, the FDA, the CDC, and other public health organizations. The toolkit also contains USP recommendations from its Compounding Expert Committee, including different formulations and alternative ingredients, and relevant USP standards used for the preparation of hand sanitizers. Additional formulations may be added to address ingredient shortages, according to USP.

"Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading the virus to others. Hand sanitizers are critical in situations where soap and water are not readily available. This is particularly important for people who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as health care professionals," said Jaap Venema, chief science officer for USP, in a press release. "Keeping health care workers safe can help reduce the overall burden of this deadly virus."

REFERENCE

U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) offers hand sanitizer toolkit in response to the COVID-19 pandemic [news release]. Rockville, MD; PR Newswire: April 2, 2020. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-pharmacopeia-usp-offers-hand-sanitizer-toolkit-in-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-301034001.html. Accessed April 2, 2020.