Virustatic Shield - any good?

[loubylou8]

Hello all

I've bought Virustatic Shields, which just arrived - and seeing them has made me feel a bit foolish as they seem very flimsy, and poorly made, for 20 quid.

I also can't find any science backing up the claims of being resistant to viruses - and I fear that the snoods have a good PR who is getting them in the papers, but I can't find any real research. As someone else said, if they were proven to work wouldn't they be part of PPE?

All I've really found online are pics of instagram bloggers wearing them, which always makes me feel suspicious of a product's qualities. Also at £20 they are an expensive bandana, as I have other scarves that I could be using for free!

I'd love to hear from anyone with a good experience of them, or see any data that could be shared before I try and get my money back. Or maybe the £60 is my emperor's new clothes tax??

[Itoldyouiwasill]

Mine just arrived too but only cost £20 I think. Must admit to having a little smile when I saw it and wondered if I'd been conned

[loubylou8]

Yup @itoldyouiwasill I thought EXACTLY the same - mine was £20 too but I bought three so could kit out the whole family (hence £60 total).

Mine has already pulled at the seams and now has holes in as a result, and seems like crap - have contacted the company to ask for a refund.

[Itoldyouiwasill]

And mine feels incredibly tight, almost like I'm being smothered despite me not thinking my head is particularly large

[ArseholesOnToast]

Oh no I’ve got one being delivered this afternoon. I thought it would be a good thing to have.

[loubylou8]

@arseholesontoast I guess see what you think when it arrives? Maybe I had a dodgy one (company is processing a refund without quibbling, which is excellent)

[Spamellahamella]

I dunno. I have one and it makes me feel reassured pulling it up when joggers go past me. I totally want to believe in the virus killing coating but also couldn't find any information on it.

[Backyard72]

If there was any scientific evidence to back their claims they surely would have put it on their website. It certainly doesn't look like it could filter virus sized particles and I'd sure like to see more information about the virus trapping and killing abilities before I bought one. What does 360 degree protection even mean?

They do seem a legit company though and haven't just appeared overnight: www.carrington.co.uk/en/news-videos/latest-news/virustatic-shield/

and they do provide a variety of materials to the defence sector: www.carrington.co.uk/en/fabrics/defence-fabrics/

[ProfessorHasturLaVista]

www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/18373032.rhyls-clarence-medical-surgery-invest-virustatic-shield-snoods-implement-changes-fight-covid-19/

Review from a GP here, careful to stress they are not being used in clinical situations. I think if all you have is a standard scarf or snood then a thinner fitted one that has been tested with regular flu virus is better than nothing.
I use mine for supermarket, that’s all and treat it like a mask when taking on and off. Still doing the hand washing etc I would do.

[ArseholesOnToast]

Mine arrived and it does seem very flimsy and very tight. It squashed my nose (I don’t have a very big nose anyway) and it felt really claustrophobic.

I will use it when I go to the supermarket but I’ll continue to observe good hand hygiene, etc. as well. I think that it’ll give me a bit of reassurance if someone gets within 2m or is coughing/sneezing.

Can’t help it think it’s a bit of a con.

[Backyard72]

@ProfessorHasturLaVista do you actually have the virustatic? Is breathing easy through it or resistant like Ffp2 or ffp3? Is this basically providing the protection of a surgical mask ie. Just lowering cough/sneeze transmission distance by the wearer?

[ememem84]

I was intrigued by this so had a look at the website. Apparently the protective coating lasts for three washes?

[ProfessorHasturLaVista]

Backyard72 breathing is fine through it. I find it less claustrophobic than a diy dust mask, although it is a very tight fit (don’t try and roll it down to put it on like a regular snood, you need to slide it on as a tube).
As a piece of material to capture any virus you might be breathing out it’s fine. That’s without the claims of the antivirus coating that actively destroys virus.

[Futureplanning]

I've got one, I think they rushed to increase production when the pandemic hit, as they do look a bit rough round the edges and weren't due for release just yet. I must admit I was a bit surprised at how crappy it looked when I first opened it, then did a bit more research which put my mind at rest.

I don't think they would be able to say what they do about the virus properties, if it doesn't do that.

[maryberrystalentlesstwin]

Twenty quid is a hell of a lot of money for something that only lasts three washes.

[ArseholesOnToast]

On the website it says it can be worn for 50 hours before washing so that’s 150hrs of life.

[ememem84]

@ArseholesOnToast ah I didn’t read that...

[loubylou8]

I feel that the scientific information is vague - on the website it talks about being developed by "world leading institutions" but it doesn't set out clearly who was involved or how.

There are lots of news articles - none of which cite any science - and pictures of local doctors' surgeries, celebrities and bloggers wearing them, but I can't find anything which sounds substantial. There are no details are how they are tested or which teams developed the fabric for example.

[loubylou8]

@Futureplanning can you share links to your research? I'd love to see more and put my mind at rest too

[Fuggs]

I ordered 8 of these for the family, and they have just arrived. I tried mine first, and boy, are they tight, crazy tight. I managed to slide it on like a tube, and because I am bald. Others in my family, those with lots of hair, big struggle. Too much for one lady as she doesn't have the strength to pull it over her head.
After I got mine on, getting it off was as bad. I then noticed all the stitching down the centre seam had pulled into large loops. Clearly there wasn't anywhere near enough material. How long this will stay together I don't know... And these were all adult (Large) size. I tried rolling one gently on my arms, but no difference. Still mega tight and pulled stitches. Pity I can't upload a picture.
Reviewing it, I think for £20, it's a rip off. Its like a poor quality ,£3, made in China, neck buff. Top and bottom seams are unfinished, just rough cut off. They are not even stitch finished like a tube dishcloth is, In fact I think they are better finished....and its so tight across the face.
Because we opened them to try them, and of course you have to open them to try them, I can't return them. Bang £160 up the Swanee...
Some cynics among us could argue they are so tight to save material.... as clearly they can't meet production output... Whether these are preproduction or not, they are pretty crappy.... Why the manufacturers say clip any looseness up with a hair grip beat be, there isn't any..All in all, I am very disappointed. I have emailed Virustatic, no reply yet, but will keep you updated as and when. If I don't get a satisfactory outcome, i.e. proper size or refund, I will have to claim back of my credit card.
For now, I would recommend them, not for £20 anyway, in my opinion, someone is making a lot of money here....

[loubylou8]

@fuggs I totally agree. For what it's worth I raised a complaint and have been told that a refund has been processed, although the money hasn't yet arrived. I sorted that via Facebook Messenger.

The thing that raised suspicions with me is that their FB page is only pics that they have uploaded, no pictures of the real snoods. And, anyone who comments anything remotely negative on the FB page gets an answer super quickly.

I wish I could uplaod a picture here too, as the stitches gave as soon as I pulled it over my (perfectly averagely sized) head. Obvs big gaping gaps in the hems would negate any kind of virus proof qualities.

I think the science looks thin in hindsight, and I too think that it's a con (sadly)

[ProfessorHasturLaVista]

There are lots of photos sent in of people wearing them on their FB page. Including Jason Manford, so that’s possibly the only thing me and him have ever agreed on
I don’t work for them, have no links with them but don’t believe it’s a scam. It hasn’t been tested to the point where I’d want to wear it to do a medical procedure but I don’t have to. I wouldn’t want to wear a mask intended for NHS PPE or a cheap foreign copy that’s been thrown on the floor of some dirty factory.
Quality control looks to have gone a bit skew-wiff due to increase in orders and production, maybe? I hope they sort that out for anyone who has had problems or aren’t happy. They do seem to be willing to address the problems on the FB page I saw.

[Caionna]

I have just taken delivery of a couple and confirm I’ve got all the problems raised above. I understand the pressure they’re under but at £20 each only one fits and that’s ready to come apart at the seams. Hopefully the company will sort this out ASAP.

[Andiwilltrytofixyou]

I've received mine, quality and fit seem fine (they have a note on their Facebook page saying there was a bad batch sent out) . However, the literature states these are CE class 2, but the sticker on the packing says CE class 1

[Fuggs]

Just had a same day email reply from Virustatic Shield admitting they had an internal sizing problem and giving me the choice of a refund or replacement. In fairness, I do believe in the integrity of the product (not quality of production) and have opted for replacements.
Thought I would pass that on. Now looking like good customer support.

[goingoverground]

@ProfessorHasturLaVista as you're a GP and presumably know how to remove a mask safely, how can you remove a tightly fitting snood safely? I appreciate it says that it traps and destroys 96% of the virus for flu strains but that's not 100%...