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A Multicentric Study on Validation of Spot Testing Kit

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the validity of the Spot testing kit (against the Standard iodometric titration) in the semi-quantitative estimation of iodine in salt.

Methods

The project was conducted at four centers in the country, namely, Vadodara, Jodhpur, Dibrugarh and New Delhi (AIIMS, coordinating centre). Uniform protocol was utilized at all the four centres. The school going children were asked to bring 30 g of iodine from their kitchen in an auto-seal polythene pouche with an identification slip. The iodine content of 3,010 salt samples (more than 700 salt samples from each center) was estimated independently by two different methods i.e., Iodometric Titration (used as reference standard) and Spot Testing Kit (STK) method, and the results were compared. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the STK method in relation to the Standard iodometric titration (SIT) were calculated.

Results

From total of 3,010 salt samples, majority (98%) of the salt samples collected were of powdered salt. The specificity of various research centers ranged from 60.5% to 88.9%. The positive predictive value of the various research centers ranged from 69.9% to 98%. The NPV of the various research centers ranged from 96.8% to 100%. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the STK method (against IT method) for four centers together was 99.6% and 66.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

The STK method is reliable for semi quantitative estimation of iodine content in salt and it can be used for monitoring the quality of iodized salt available in the community.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratefulness to all four participating centers for their great support and providing facilities to carry out the study in their department. They hereby express their gratitude to Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for the help and encouragement extended during the study. They would also like to thank health functionaries, school principals, teachers and students for their kind co-operation making this programme fruitful.

Contributions

SN; cooordination of entire project, seeking permissions in various schools, supervising the analysis, manuscript preparation, MBS; coordination of entire project, seeking permissions in various schools, supervising the analysis, manuscript preparation, SKS; coordination of entire project, seeking permissions in various schools, supervising the analysis, manuscript preparation, RMP; provided insight in statistical analysis of the entire data of the project, UK; coordination of all four centers human nutrition unit, AIIMS.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Role of Funding Source

MBI Kits, Chennai in partnership with AIIMS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Foods and Nutrition, A WHO-Collaborating Center for Health Promotion, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, 390002, Gujarat, India

    Sirimavo Nair

  2. Desert Medicine Research Center (ICMR), New Pali Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

    Madhu B. Singh

  3. Regional Medical Research Center, N.E.Region, East-Chowkidingheepost Box No. 105, Dibrugarh, India

    S. K. Sharma

  4. Department of Biostatics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    R. M. Pandey

  5. Department of Human Nutrition and Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Umesh Kapil

Authors
  1. Sirimavo Nair
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  2. Madhu B. Singh
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  3. S. K. Sharma
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  4. R. M. Pandey
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  5. Umesh Kapil
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Correspondence to Sirimavo Nair.

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Nair, S., Singh, M.B., Sharma, S.K. et al. A Multicentric Study on Validation of Spot Testing Kit. Indian J Pediatr 79, 751–754 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0566-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0566-y

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