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Adaptation of a compact rapid vitamin A assay device (iCHECK™) to simulated field conditions and relevant substrates in Guatemala
Author(s) -
Zambo Zsofia Magdolna,
SanchezMena Jose David,
Orozco Monica N,
Solomons Noel W
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.845.10
Subject(s) - sugar , vitamin , food science , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry
Background Guatemala has mandated fortifying granulated table sugar with vitamin A at 10–20 ppm. Children in the interior commonly continue partial breast‐feeding through the first 2 y of life. Objective To adapt the preparation of samples of sugar and bovine milk for a rapid assessment of vitamin A using nonlaboratory items for mixing and measuring. Methods Sugar samples were mixed for homogenization in plastic bags, with 4 g delivered into a 20 mL syringe to prepare a 20 w/v% solution. Heavy cream was diluted in plastic bags. Samples were injected into iEX™ extraction vials and measured by fluorometry in an iCHECK™(BioAnalyt, Telbow, Germany) rapid assay unit, providing digital read‐outs in μ/L. Results Intra‐sample CVs ranged from 0.3–7.8% and intraobserver CVs ranged from 2.1– 15.0% for dairy. The r value for the inter‐observer assay association for 12 sugar specimens was 0.86 (p<0.001). Inter‐observer accord on median vitamin A values was excellent for both substrates. Plausible values for sugar vitamin A, with a median of 11 ppm, were found for 58 samples of sugar gathered from across 4 regions. Conclusion The iCHECK™ system provides plausible values for vitamin A content of fortified sugar and bovine milk and cream. It offers important promise for a rapid, on‐site, field‐level evaluation of materials for timely public health responses. Supported by a donation from Sight & Life