IDing Counterfeit Drugs Might Be Easier Than You Think

A research technique called Disintegration Fingerprinting can detect counterfeit drugs using minimal hardware: a clear cup, a stir plate, a microcontroller, a servo, and an IR line-following sensor. When a pill dissolves in water on the stir plate, the IR sensor records a reflectance signal over time that forms a unique fingerprint. Tested on 32 drug products, the method achieved 90% accuracy and could even distinguish between generic and brand-name versions. It's seen as a promising low-cost quality control tool, especially for low- and middle-income countries where counterfeit drugs are prevalent.