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??

[Tom59]

I opted for the replacement, rather than the refund.
The new one arrived and is a much better fit. It is physically the same size, but it is a softer, more stretchy material than the first one was.

[ABlackSheep]

People need to be careful stating as fact that: 'there is no scientific evidence' associated with the VirusStatic Shield, there is and all these types of comments do is confuse and further the pandemic's growth. A moments research will find the Snood has been nominated for both the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Innovation and Index Project.

[Oxyiz]

So they need to make it obvious. They need to stop waving buzzwords and marketing ploys and actually link to the research - get some credible scientists to put their names to it, and answer some really practical concerns that have been outlined on this thread.

I say this as someone who would buy these things if I trusted them!

[Tom59]

My new one was a disaster. As soon as I talked or moved, it was as if the whole thing walked down my face, even though it was a tight fit.
I sent it back and got a full refund.

[Backyard72]

Sounds like they should give up on the snood form and just make a mask out of the material.

[Ilsington]

I have 3 of these masks. Quite comfortable to wear and fits ok. Was a bit worried about the actual science behind this so I looked up "Virustatic patent" and found quite a lot of information including this from 2016: www.labmate-online.com/news/news-and-views/5/virustatic/virus-restriction-huge-potential-for-protective-coatings/38338
They've developed it further since then. Facebook reviews say that they made the first batch too small and have replaced them. Still not sure of the level of protection offered, but now convinced that it's not a scam.

[Backyard72]

Good find Ilsington, so it seems to be a virus trapping glycoprotein like structure bonded to fabric. Why doesn't their website mention this?

I'm wondering now how well the glycoprotein survives a wash, as detergents can denature proteins pretty effectively.

Additionally, if the virus is trapped can some of it become detached and transfer onto your hand for example, when removing the snood.

Their PR department need a kick up the backside for sure.

[Fairineouf]

People need to be careful stating as fact that: 'there is no scientific evidence' associated with the VirusStatic Shield, there is and all these types of comments do is confuse and further the pandemic's growth. A moments research will find the Snood has been nominated for both the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Innovation and Index Project.

So, facts, excellent. I love facts.

The marketing headlines are "get protected now". "antiviral protection for you and your family" "traps and kills 96% of enveloped influenza viruses" "BUY NOW" .

Fact. The pandemic we are in is caused by Covid-19.

Fact. Covid-19 is not an influenza virus.

Fact. It's a Corona Virus.

Fact. Influenza viruses and Corona viruses are different.

Fact. They make no claim about being protective against Covid-19. Is Covid-19 mentioned at all? Are Corona viruses mentioned at all?

Fact. Influenza virus pandemic product effectiveness - claims 96% product effectiveness. Great - unless it's caused by any of the remaining 4% but i'm not in lockdown because of an influenza virus so i'll let this go.

Fact. Corona virus pandemic product effectiveness - claims ??% - so there are no claims the product has any effect against Corona Virus.

Fact. I cannot see any link to published scientific evidence on their website but happy for someone to show me any link I have missed. I love a good scientific paper.

So buy one or don't buy one. I don't care how anyone chooses to spend their money, but don't mistake marketing hype and carefully chosen words for science. Ask yourself what is not there. Ask yourself why it is not there. Just my opinion.

Oh, and another "moments research" finds that nomination for the Queen Elizabeth Prize are accepted by anyone who cares to nominate (other than the creators) and Index Project nominations are accepted by anyone. Not quite so prestigious as it may at first seem.

[loubylou8]

@Fairineouf chapeau, I couldn't agree more

[murp]

Not to mention papers will copy each others stories without checking up on sources. I've had friends suffer incorrect stories that spread across the press because of this and then the original will post a tiny retraction on page 20.

Manchester uni has asked some sites to correct their stories as they won't verify any of the claims about this shield. Why won't they stand behind it if there have been any real research verifying the claims?

Even that one labmate article says "Work is also ongoing to further develop the technology so it can capture other potentially deadly pathogens such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)."

In other words it was hoped they could get it to work on corona viruses. Have they managed in the past few years and if so why isn't the research linked on their website?

[murp]

I see on their facebook page they now say they haven't tested it against covid19 and people are saying this is because they haven't had time but they don't even say they have tested it with other corona viruses which they have had plenty of time to do.

[megthing]

My mask is made of woven material. This means there are holes in between the threads. This is strange as most make are made of non-woven material. There is also the issue of the holes from the weak stitching. I bought mine off of Ebay and suspect it's counterfeit. Where did everyone else buy theirs?

[Gronky]

They apparently contain lactoferrin:
www.thebangoraye.com/scientists-pioneering-protein-paves-the-way-for-covid-19-cure/

It's a broad spectrum antimicrobial but I'm sceptical as to how effective a dry coating is and how long it would last. You produce plenty of lactoferrin in your own nose and lungs (as well as other places in your body).