Counterfeit drugs – the latest health scare?

The menace of counterfeit drugs is no longer a possibility; it is with us now and growing at a phenomenal rate, according to organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). WHO, for example, estimates that on average 10% of the worlds drug supply is considered counterfeit, adulterated or otherwise fraudulent, although in some developing countries it could be as high as 33%. [1] Instrumentation using Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction technology is discussed as one approach to testing drugs for alteration or substitution.