FDA warns of ‘life-threatening’ methanol-based hand sanitizers, authorizes new COVID-19 test kits

The Food and Drug Administration last week warned of methanol’s toxic and “not acceptable” suitability for use as an active ingredient in hand sanitizer. Methanol is a wood alcohol more commonly used for the creation of fuel or antifreeze. FDA said it has seen an increase in methanol’s use in hand sanitizers, resulting in adverse events among adults and children that include blindness, hospitalizations and death. 

FDA also authorized the emergency use of a trio of COVID-19 test kits: 

• the TNS Co., Ltd (Bio TNS) COVID-19 RT-PCR Peptide Nucleic Acid for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory specimens; 
• the Kroger Health COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit, which can be used by individuals to self-collect nasal swab specimens at home while video-observed by a health care provider; and 
• Psomagen, Inc.’s Psoma COVID-19 RT Test, which is authorized for qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory swab specimens and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens.