Table 1 Select results on oxytocin quality in LMICs

Lambert et al., 2018 [8]

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Peer-reviewed article

Where available, 20 ampoules from 15 facilities (256 ampoules tested in total)

80% out specification

Anyakora et al., 2018 [9]

Nigeria

Peer-reviewed article

159 ampoules tested

74.2% out of specification

National Institute of Biologics, Ministry of Health and Family Affairs of India, 2017 [10]

India

Government report

58 samples drawn from government sources

41.3% not of standard quality

M. Lui et al., 2016 [11]

Nepal, Vietnam

Peer-reviewed article

42 samples from 35 pharmacies

31% out of specification

Torloni et al., 2016 [7]

15 countries

Peer-reviewed article (systematic literature review)

8 studies assayed a total of 559 oxytocin samples

45.6% median prevalence of oxytocin samples did not pass quality testing as defined by authors; 36.0% out of specification

World Health Organization, 2015 [12]

Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal, Nigeria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

WHO report

22 batches from 15 manufacturers

64% out of specification

Stanton et al., 2014 [13]

India

Peer-reviewed article

193 ampoules

36.2% out of specification

Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Laboratory Services Department, 2013 [14]

Ghana

Government report

169 ampoules

Assay: 55.6% out of specification (2% of these had 0% API); 10% failed assay but passed sterility

Sterility: 40% of samples failed sterility but passed assay; 45% of samples failed both assay and sterility tests 97.5% of samples failed sterility, assay, or both

Stanton et al., 2012 [15]

Ghana

Peer-reviewed

46 ampoules

73.9% out of specification; 4.3% expired

Hogerzeil et al., 1993 [16]

Zimbabwe

Peer-reviewed

6 samples from the same manufacturer from five district hospitals

1 of 6 samples expired; of remaining 5 samples, 80% out of specification