Recommended Field Spectrometers in Laos

A comparative field evaluation of six medicine quality screening devices in Laos. Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR. See "Evaluation of portable devices for medicine quality screening: Lessons learnt, recommendations for implementation, and future priorities" in PLoS Med, volume 18, e1003747. However, there is little independent evidence on their field utility and usability to inform policy decisions. This pilot study in the Lao PDR tested six devices' utility and usability in detecting substandard. Substandard and falsified (SF) antimalarials have devastating consequences including increased morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Portable medicine quality screening devices are increasingly available, but whether their use for the detection of SF antimalarials is cost-effective is not. Screening for SF medicines in supply chains ('post-market surveillance') by medicine inspectors is crucial but currently relies only on subjective visual inspection of medicines in most countries. Many innovative portable screening technologies now exist and could be key additional assets to the. [PDF]