Anti-malarial medicine quality field studies and surveys: a systematic review of screening technologies used and reporting of findings

Table 1 Tests for assessing the quality of a medicine

Test dimensions	Description	Medicine analytical technology	Role in a MQSS	Cost^a
Identity	Verifies identity of SAPI	Visual examination of packaging Counterfeit detection device (CD3) RAMAN spectroscopy (hand-held device) Specialized mass spectrometry (MS) techniques Direct analysis in real time (DART) Desorption electrospray ionization—(DESI)	Screening Screening Screening Confirmatory	n/a * *
Assay	Detection and quantitation of SAPI	Semi-quantitative thin layer chromatography (TLC) (GPHF MiniLab^®) High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and coupled to mass spectrometer (LC–MS) Mass spectroscopy (MS)	Screening Confirmatory Confirmatory	* *
Disintegration	Determines that a tablet or capsule will disintegrate	GPHF MiniLab^®	Screening	*
Dissolution	Proxy measure of the bioavailability of a medicine (extent to which medicine will dissolve in the body)	Dissolution apparatus	Confirmatory	**

^aDenotes relative cost of the technology; inexpensive—less than $10,000 (*), moderate—$10,000–$100,000 (**), very expensive—greater than $100,000 (***) [24]

ISSN: 1475-2875