Fingers or spoons to make oral rehydration solution?

The accuracy and variability of the composition of oral rehydration solution (ORS) prepared by village health workers using (i) a finger measurement technique and (ii) a special ORS measuring spoon were compared. The sodium and sucrose concentrations were measured in 130 ORSs prepared by each technique. All the spoon-measured ORSs had acceptable levels of sodium and sucrose, compared with 93% of the finger-measured ORSs. Only 23% of finger-measured ORSs had hypertonic sodium levels. The variability of sodium and sucrose levels was significantly greater with the finger measurement technique. This comparison should assist programme managers to decide which technique to adopt. Both techniques require careful instruction to ensure accuracy.