[Comparison of 2 field methods for urinary assay of chloroquine]

Two methods of urinary chloroquine assay were tested in pregnant women in the town of Banfora (Burkina Faso): the method with bromothymol blue (Bergqvist) and the method with methyl-orange (Haskins and Mount or HMM II). Urinary assay of chloroquine was performed with both methods in 45 women chosen at random whether or not under chemoprophylactic treatment (21 taking a weekly prophylaxis of 300 mg of chloroquine, and 24 controls). The HMM II method proved to be more sensitive (100%) and more specific (91.7%) than the Bergqvist method (80.9% and 83.3% respectively); it was also more reliable with regard to positive (91.3% versus 80.9%) and negative (100% versus 91.3%) predictive values. Moreover, the quantitative appreciation of the levels of chloroquine excretion proved to be superior with the HMM II method. Finally, this method is faster to perform, easier to use and cheaper, making it the method of choice for field assay of chloroquine in urine.