#3d Barcode May Prevent Drug Counterfeiting A specialized barcode unveiled at The british Science Festival on Wednesday may play an important role in combating the global proliferation of fake medications. Engineers from the University of Bradford and a UK company called Sofmat developed the barcode, writes The Guardian. The system is three dimensional, undetectable by touch, and invisible to the naked eye. An estimated 10 to 30 percent of global medicines sold in developing countries like Afghanistan and parts of Africa are counterfeit, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Packing and labeling may look similar to real brand-name drugs, but these false pills could cause serious harm. During the manufacturing process, each individual tablet would be imprinted with tiny pinpricks, reports The Guardian. These small notches would have variations that can be customized for different types of medications. Medical professionals would then be able to check these small notches with a scanner before they give the medication to a patient. As long as the scanner detects the appropriate barcode that corresponds to that pill, it safe for the patient to take the drug. Sofmat managing director Dr. Phil Harrison told The Guardian this system llows more complexity than existing anti-counterfeit systems. Using a four-pin array we can have more than 1. 7m configurations. arrison noted this project attracted interest from companies in Switzerland and China whereas getting interest from US and UK firms has proven to be more of a challenge
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