The Science Behind hand hygiene

Hand Sanitizer the science behind hand hygiene from QShield

Traditional hand sanitizers and gels are based on old technology. They contain alcohol (normally 70%+), and a range of other chemicals.  The mode of action for these sanitizers is to leach from the skin surface, soak the surrounding area and chemically poison the microbe. However, in doing this it is also soaking the surrounding environment in toxins, raising concerns for the environment in general and your skin in particular. Once the alcohol dries off, the killing action stops and the germs return. They need to be re-applied often for continuous protection, resulting in damage to and drying of the skin, and even more absorption.

There is now a safe, effective and durable alternative that:

  • Does not use poisons or toxins.
  • Does not leach or transfer or absorb.
  • Does not harm your skin
  • Has a physical rather than a chemical mode of action.

Q Shield™ is a unique new technology, patented and an FDA registered formula. It is a disinfectant that uses a new generation of silicone polymers to serve as its preferred surface application to prevent and inhibit microbial infestation.

It is applied by simply spraying onto the hands and rubbing them together for a few seconds, until air dried. It forms a microscopic coating on the skin, and becomes substantive to it. You cannot see it or feel it, but can rest assured it is there.

Once it is applied to your hands it cannot be washed off and will not lose or have its killing action diminished after washing. Indeed, it is recommend that you continue to regularly wash your hands as this removes the dead microbes and exposes the surface of Q Shield™ , ready to deal with the next infestation. The only way it comes off the skin is by abrasion, or with the skin as it exfoliates.

Once dried on the skin, Q Shield™ is non toxic and chemically inert. Safe for handling food, and babies! It will also make hands feel smoother and softer as it locks in the natural moisturising oils in the skin.

Microbes are killed physically by the polymer’s surface composition, which acts like a sword that effectively skewers and ruptures the microbes outer cellular wall, killing all germs (viruses, bacteria, moulds and fungus) on contact. This is a process called lysis.

Q Shield™ contains highly purified water, ethyl alcohol (only 18%, and only to stop the product from freezing), fragrance, and the active ingredient is an organosilane quaternary compound, specifically: 3-Trimethoxy silyl propyl dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, which is environmentally safe, and the molecule will break down into the common carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and silicon dioxide (sand or quartz) from which it was derived.

The molecule is formed in three parts:

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  1. The silane base, which anchors to the skin surface by covalent bonds, formed readily through hydrolysis reactions.
  2. The centrally located positively charged nitrogen.
  3. The long molecular chain, standing out from the base, that acts like a “sword” to rupture the microbes outer cellular wall.

Microbes cell membranes are negatively charged, and when in close proximity are drawn onto the long molecular chain, which ruptures the membrane. This would normally be sufficient to kill the microbe, but just to be sure, when it makes contact with the positive nitrogen it is electrocuted and blown apart, just to be certain!

Since Q Shield™ does not dissipate or leach, it can not be absorbed by the organism — or by you. As the membrane of the microbe is physically rupturedand electrocuted, Q Shield™ is not consumed and does not dissipate, nothing is transferred. The antimicrobial action is not depleted and continues to control microbial growth over time with no loss of efficacy.

Q Shield™ addresses the two main ecological concerns associated with traditional leaching antimicrobials: bleeding harmful toxins into the environment, and you, and the generation of adaptive organisms (super bugs). The mode of action of Q Shield™ is physical and its molecular makeup alleviates these concerns.

Q Shield™ meets the standards set out by EN1500 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics, hygienic hand rub


ORGANISMS KILLED BY Q SHIELD

Q Shield working with:

NHS hand santizer BMI Hand Santizer
Ramsay Health Hand Santizer from QShield Hand Sanitizer QShield at BMW
Management trust use Hand Sanitizer from QShield
Hand Hygiene solution QShield chosen by leading food preperation company
Hand Santizers important to optical express

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