Minilab gets five new tests for falsified, substandard drugs

Five more test protocols have been added to the capabilities of the Minilab, a suitcase-sized lab used to identify falsified medicines.

The new tests can be used to detect and quantify the antibiotics cefpodoxime and dapsone, antiseptic drug chlorhexidine, antiretroviral HIV treatment efavirenz, and amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, taking the total number of test protocols to 85.

The Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF), a charitable organisation maintained by German group Merck KGaA, said the new test protocols can also be used to investigate fixed-dose combination formulations for amlodipine and efavirenz, for example amlodipine combined with hydrochlorothiazide HCT or atenolol and efavirenz combined with tenofovir, emtricitabine or lamivudine.

Meanwhile, the GPHF says a gap in the Minilab's coverage of essential antiretrovirals has been closed with an update on current nevirapine fixed-dose combination products.

The Minilab is particularly suitable for areas of the world where counterfeiting is prevalent but sophisticated tools for their detection are not readily available. Since GPHF first launched the system 18 years ago, more than 800 Minilabs have been supplied to 95 countries worldwide.

"To increase the Minilab's range of applications even further, the GPHF will go on to invest more in test method development for essential drugs and other prevailing medicines," said the organisation.