Estimation of content of anti-TB drugs supplied at centres of the Revised National TB Control Programme in Tamil Nadu, India.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the content of certain antituberculosis (TB) drugs supplied at TB treatment centres of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.


METHODS
Eight districts across the state were selected, and the following drugs were collected from five settings (District TB centre, TB unit, designated microscopy centres, DOT providers) in each district: rifampicin (150 and 450 mg), isoniazid (300 mg), pyrazinamide (500 and 750 mg), ethambutol (400 and 600 mg), ethionamide (250 mg), levofloxacin (500 mg) and cycloserine (250 mg). A maximum of 10 tablets/capsules were collected from each setting. The drugs were coded prior to analysis. All drugs were assayed by validated spectrophotometric methods. The acceptable limits for drug content were taken as 90-110% of the stated content.


RESULTS
More than 90% of tablets of rifampicin 450 mg, isoniazid 300 mg, pyrazinamide 500 and 750 mg, ethambutol 400 and 600 mg and ethionamide 250 mg were within acceptable limits. Eighty per cent of rifampicin 150 mg, 21% of cycloserine 250 mg and 87% of levofloxacin 500 mg were within acceptable limits. The mean cycloserine content was below the acceptable limit in all districts, the mean drug content being 200 mg (range: 108-245 mg).


CONCLUSIONS
This systematic study showed that the stated drug content of cycloserine was not reached in all districts. Deterioration of cycloserine could be minimised by storing the drug in refrigerators. The geographical location of the districts had no influence on the drug content.
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India.
Geetha
G
Ramachandran
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India.
Vedachalam
V
Chandrasekaran
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India.
Agibothu Kupparam
AK
Hemanth Kumar
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, New Delhi, India.
Puneet
P
Dewan
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India.
Soumya
S
Swaminathan
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India.
Aleyamma
A
Thomas
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000592:standards; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005000:Ethionamide / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D064704:Levofloxacin; D004977:Ethambutol; D003523:Cycloserine; D015242:Ofloxacin; D005000:Ethionamide; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin
Revised National TB Control Programme; anti-TB drugs; drug content