Chronoprints: A Computer Vision Way to Test for Counterfeit Drugs

Counterfeit drugs are common in many parts of the world. Their existence is extremely dangerous for vulnerable patients who are robbed of their money and their health. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have come up with a way of testing drugs using cheap existing, but slightly modified, video equipment and image recognition tools. The idea is to film how a powdered drug, mixed with water, undergoes a physical change such as being frozen. Different chemicals freeze differently and these slight changes can actually be detected using standard video cameras and photo analysis software.