Rapid On-Site Detection of Counterfeit Tablets Using Handheld Raman Spectroscopy
The Cora 101 handheld Raman spectrometer provides fast, on-site verification of tablets by delivering clear pass/fail results based on chemical fingerprinting. This approach supports efficient detection of counterfeit medicines in field environments such as border control and market surveillance.
Falsified and substandard medicinal products pose a serious and persistent threat to public health worldwide. Such products may contain no active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), an incorrect API, or an incorrect dosage level. The consequences range from therapeutic failure and increased antimicrobial resistance to acute intoxication and, in severe cases, death. [1] It is therefore a matter of public safety to reliably detect counterfeit medicines.
The global availability of pharmaceuticals via online marketplaces and informal distribution channels has significantly increased the accessibility of counterfeit medicines. Due to increasingly complex international supply chains and the widespread use of e‑commerce platforms, falsified medical products now affect both lowand high-income countries alike. [1,2]
At the same time, illegal manufacturers are employing increasingly sophisticated production and packaging techniques, making visual inspection or simple packaging checks insufficient for reliable identification. As a result, authorities and regulatory bodies need more advanced analysis instruments to detect counterfeit medicines quickly, safely, and directly at points of control such as borders, postal hubs, or warehouses. [1]
Against laboratory-based analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry, Raman handheld analyzers provide a quick insight without the need for sample preparation, even by measuring directly through packaging. Real-world scenarios in border control and logistic scenarios require rapid decision-making. This drives demand for portable, non-destructive screening techniques that enable on-site verification without compromising sample integrity. [3]
Handheld Raman spectroscopy addresses this need by enabling fast chemical identification based on a substance’s unique molecular fingerprint. When combined with application-specific spectral libraries covering multiple hundred or thousand substances, Raman spectroscopy allows non-expert users to differentiate genuine pharmaceutical products from falsified or substandard ones within seconds, directly in the field. [3,4]
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