| Universiti Putra Malaysia

'Instant hand sanitiser' bottles for UPM frontliners

SERDANG: The Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has produced an instant hand sanitiser product (50ml) and distributed it to UPM frontliners for their use.

The product was distributed free of charge to the frontliners, UPM Teaching Hospital, University Health Centre, University Security Division, as well as 1,200 students who are still on campus.

The first phase of production had produced 560 50ml bottles of hand sanitisers which were delivered to the University’s COVID19 Operations Room (OSHA) for distribution. The second phase will produce more than 2,000 50ml bottles of the product, which are expected to be ready later this week. This phase also includes the production of refillable 10L bottles to be distributed to the frontliners for hand sanitiser refills, while in the third phase, the group will provide surface sanitiser for university use.

 

The product meets the World Health Organization (WHO) certification requirements, and is manufactured in accordance with the WHO formulation (https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf) at the Virology Laboratory and Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory in two production phases involving more than 2,000 50ml bottles of hand sanitisers.

The first phase of production was sponsored by the staff of the faculty, while the second phase is a collaboration with the university through the Occupational Safety and Health Management Office, UPM, and contributed by U-Lik Sdn. Bhd. and Lam Chem Sdn. Bhd.

 

Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Prof. Dr. Arbakariya Ariff, said the production initiative was due to the high demand for the product by the frontliners and the difficulty of getting the product in the market.

According to him, the hand sanitiser could kill 99.9% of germs without water. It contains 75% alcohol and is paraben free, and colouring and fragrance which could cause irritations to certain users.

 

He said the product was tested in the laboratory and has been proven to inhibit the growth of different microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.

The group of volunteers who produced the product includes  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Sarah Othman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chia Suet Lin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mas Jaffri Masarudin and Mr Mohd Radzi Mahidin. – UPM

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