01731nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001200059653003000071653001100101653001200112653002300124653001300147653003200160100001400192700001400206700001500220245008900235300001200324490000700336050003200343520108800375022001401463       1991                            d  c1991 Apr-Jun10aDapsone10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aHumans10aleprosy10aPatient Compliance10aRifampin10aSensitivity and Specificity1 aYoder L J1 aGuitrau M1 aJacobson R00aComparison of a urine spot test and blood tests as indicators of patient compliance.  a195-2020 v63  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>Irregular drug intake has been a concern of leprosy control programmes for many years and various methods have been used to monitor and encourage patient compliance. This study compares the results of a urine spot test for dapsone as proposed by Huikeshoven, with blood levels measured in the same patients by the modified Bratton Marshall method and by high performance liquid chromatography. Two hundred-sixty urine and blood specimens were obtained from subjects who were taking supervised and unsupervised medications as well as from controls who were taking no medications. The results indicate that the urine spot test is simple and easily performed, and for monitoring patient compliance under routine clinical conditions (hospital or field work) it compares favourably with blood levels of dapsone estimated by the Bratton Marshall method or by high performance liquid chromatography. The study also shows that dapsone level is not a good indicator of compliance in patients who are also taking daily rifampicin but the urine spot test remains useful in such patients.</p>  a0254-9395