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Advice re Medicine Testing

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 9:45 am
by RajB
Excuse me for this Newbie question but I could do with expert guidance.

I am looking for a quick way to test whether medicine tablets have the right active ingredient in right quantity. What do I need? A UV-VIS photo spectrometer?

Longer version: I am running a charity in India providing 60k people with affordable medicine - shaving up to 85% off the cost.

We buy medicine is bulk from regulated companies but the regulatory environment is weak and they might he minded to not put the full amount of active ingredient.
I am looking for a quick, uncomplicated. Way of checking whether a generic paracetamol 500 or Metformin 500 dies indeed contain 500 or thereabouts.
I know there are other tests but this is the one I am concerned about. The manufacturer does provide a certificate but it's a self test.

I can't send to a lab all the time.

I am told a UV-VIS spectrophotometer is what I need. Web searches suggest a Raman can even do it inside the packaging.

Can someone please help? I am willing to set up the infrastructure but need to know what's involved. We buy approx 600 diff meds.

Thanks for your help.
Raj

Re: Advice re Medicine Testing

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 5:54 pm
by tom jupille
Unfortunately, there is no single answer. Each of those 600 meds will have its own chemical properties and will require its own type of tests -- and the procedures for identification (is it the correct drug) and quantitation (is it the correct amount) are often different.

To use your examples, here are the test procedures for acetaminophen (paracetamol):
http://www.pharmacopeia.cn/v29240/usp29 ... f24s0_m200
and metformin:
http://www.pharmacopeia.cn/v29240/usp29 ... 49800.html

Perhaps you could partner with a local university who would run analyses for you as training for their students?