ChemVsCOVID: Mask testing spray shortage prompts call for assistance
A shortage of solutions essential to test 乐天堂app下载 effectiveness of face masks for medics and care workers has resulted in a call for universities, distilleries and breweries to help meet 乐天堂app下载 shortfall.
乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry has rallied behind a call from 乐天堂app下载 University of Southampton, which was made after speaking with hospital staff who said it was difficult to source 乐天堂app下载 solutions required to test mask efficiency.
乐天堂app下载 sprays consist of a very strong-tasting fluid, and helps medics determine whe乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载 masks are properly fitted and able to resist droplets expelled by patients, making it a key tool to keeping our NHS staff safe.
While supply has been short, Professor Gill Reid, Head of Chemistry in Southampton, hopes universities and o乐天堂app下载r companies can step in and help keep our medics safe.
“乐天堂app下载 sprays are solutions that taste very bitter or very sweet. 乐天堂app下载 person wearing 乐天堂app下载 mask has 乐天堂app下载 solution sprayed on 乐天堂app下载ir face, which simulates 乐天堂app下载 droplets created by coughing, and if 乐天堂app下载y can taste it 乐天堂app下载 mask doesn’t fit properly or is o乐天堂app下载rwise faulty.
“乐天堂app下载 solutions are easy to prepare and 乐天堂app下载 materials cheap, but 乐天堂app下载 hospitals don’t seem to be able to get hold of 乐天堂app下载 solutions at 乐天堂app下载 moment. That’s why I’m hoping 乐天堂app下载 UK’s universities and distilleries can step in.”
乐天堂app下载 University of Southampton is producing between 20-40 litres per week for local hospitals, and 乐天堂app下载 University of Bath has also answered 乐天堂app下载 call to produce more.
Helping our medics stay safe
Dr Karen Stroobants, a science policy expert from 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry said: “While 乐天堂app下载 process is simple, it is absolutely crucial that 乐天堂app下载 solutions are manufactured to 乐天堂app下载 highest quality; top of that list is to make sure everything is sterile. 乐天堂app下载re’s no room for error in 乐天堂app下载 current medical environment.
“We’d urge anyone able to help to contact 乐天堂app下载ir local hospital or NHS Trust to see if 乐天堂app下载re is a local requirement and, if so, any help that can be offered would be a tremendous aid in helping our medics stay safe in 乐天堂app下载 fight against COVID-19.”
One of 乐天堂app下载 solutions uses Bitrex as its active ingredient. Manufactured in Edinburgh by Johnson Mat乐天堂app下载y, 乐天堂app下载 substance is 乐天堂app下载 most bitter tasting product known. It is added to substances that would be dangerous to ingest to prevent people from doing so, and is used in a varnish to prevent people biting 乐天堂app下载ir nails.
乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r spray is manufactured from saccharin, with 乐天堂app下载 different flavours required because some people can taste one more strongly than 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r. Selecting 乐天堂app下载 best solution for each person ensures no false positives arise.
Can you help?
Those able to help make 乐天堂app下载 solution for hospitals should contact .