Development and implementation of a pass/fail field-friendly method for detecting sildenafil in suspect pharmaceutical tablets using a handheld Raman spectrometer and silver colloids

Analysis of unknown (unlabeled/mislabeled) drug products for active pharmaceutical ingredients and related substances by an international mail facility satellite laboratory equipped with rapid screening devices

Two chemists employed a three-device rapid screening "toolkit" consisting of a handheld Raman spectrometer, transportable mass spectrometer, and portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer at an international mail facility (IMF) satellite laboratory to examine unknown (unlabeled/mislabeled) products for the presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Phase I of this project previously demonstrated that this toolkit was the most effective collection of instruments for identifying APIs in product types collected at IMFs during a nationwide mail blitz and Phase II of this project previously demonstrated that results generated using the toolkit during a satellite laboratory pilot program were as reliable as those generated by a full-service library when two or more of these instruments identify an API. This study (Phase III) described the results of the satellite laboratory toolkit during production mode and encompassed the period ranging from June 2021 through December 2022. During this study, a total of 858 products were examined on-site at the IMF. The satellite laboratory yielded conclusive results for 726 (84.6%) products, which were used to support regulatory action, and identified 132 (15.4%) products that required additional full-service laboratory analyses due to inconclusive results. The satellite and full-service laboratory verified/confirmed at least one API/related substance in 617 (71.9%) products. A total of 709 APIs/related substances were found in the 617 products, and 202 of these 709 compounds were unique/different. Overall, during Phases I through III of this program, 350 different substances have been identified in products collected at IMFs.

Rapid screening of 2-benzylbenzimidazole nitazene analogs in suspect counterfeit tablets using Raman, SERS, DART-TD-MS, and FT-IR

Developing methods to rapidly screen for novel synthetic 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids, also known as nitazenes, has become increasingly important due to their high potency. These compounds have potency comparable or exceeding that of fentanyl by up to 10 times and have been implicated in approximately 5% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021. This paper details the authenticity determination of suspect tablets and the identification of three nitazene analogs (N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, isotonitazene, and etodesnitazene) in suspect tablets seized at a mail facility using Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with handheld devices, portable Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), and a direct analysis in real-time ambient ionization coupled to a thermal desorption unit and a mass spectrometer (DART-TD-MS). These methods are rapid and excellent for screening opioids in suspect tablets but could not fully determine the exact structure of some of the nitazene analogs present due to spectral similarities or similar fragmentation patterns. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) confirmed the presence of these nitazene compounds in addition to other opioids/drugs that were in trace quantities. The quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) detection experiments determined that the suspect tablets contained an average of 0.817 mg of N-pyrrolidino etonitazene per tablet. The results obtained reveal that the simultaneous deployment of these complementary and orthogonal portable analytical techniques as part of a workflow allows suspect tablets to be screened and nitazene-type drugs to be identified in suspect counterfeit tablets at remote sampling sites.

Screening suspect pharmaceuticals for illicit designer benzodiazepines using raman, SERS, and FT-IR prior to comprehensive analysis using LC-MS

The emergence of illicit designer benzodiazepines with high dependency and no approved clinical use are of great US public health concern. Due to the increasing numbers of illicit designer benzodiazepines encountered in the US supply chain, there is a need to develop robust analytical methods that can rapidly detect these chemicals. Suspect counterfeit tablets, powders, or liquid formulations were first screened using Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) for the presence of legal or illicit benzodiazepines, and then further analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS). Several microextraction procedures were developed and used to extract benzodiazepines from samples prior to SERS, FT-IR, and LC-MS analysis. Conventional Raman analyses using handheld Raman spectrometers afforded the ability to examine samples through enclosed plastic bags but were only able to detect high concentrations of various benzodiazepines in the suspect samples. The developed SERS methods were sufficient for detecting at least one benzodiazepine in the low-dose suspect samples, thereby allowing prioritization using other analytical tools that require more sample preparation and time-consuming analyses. The use of FT-IR spectroscopy coupled with extraction and spectral subtraction was found to be selective to multiple benzodiazepines and various excipients in the analyzed samples. This study demonstrated that the developed SERS and FT-IR procedures could be used in satellite laboratories to screen suspect packages at ports of entry and prioritize samples for additional laboratory-based analyses in an effort to prevent dangerous and illicit pharmaceutical products from reaching the US supply chain.

Facing Counterfeit Medications in Sexual Medicine. A Systematic Scoping Review on Social Strategies and Technological Solutions

Introduction

The counterfeit phenomenon is a largely under-reported issue, with potentially large burden for healthcare. The market for counterfeit drugs used in sexual medicine, most notably type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5i), is rapidly growing.

Aims

To report the health risks associated with the use of counterfeit medications, the reasons driving their use, and the strategies enacted to contain this phenomenon.

Methods

A systematic scoping review of the literature regarding counterfeit PDE5i was carried between January and June 2021, then updated in August 2021.

Main Outcome Measure

We primarily aimed to clarify the main drivers for counterfeit PDE5i use, the health risks associated, and the currently available strategies to fight counterfeiters.

Results

One hundred thirty-one records were considered for the present scoping review. Production of fake PDE5i is highly lucrative and the lacking awareness of the potential health risks makes it a largely exploitable market by counterfeiters. Adulteration with other drugs, microbial contamination and unreliable dosages make counterfeit medications a cause of worry also outside of the sexual medicine scope. Several laboratory techniques have been devised to identify and quantify the presence of other compounds in counterfeit medications. Strategies aimed at improving awareness, providing antitampering packaging and producing non-falsifiable products, such as the orodispersible formulations, are also described.

Clinical implications

Improving our understanding of the PDE5i counterfeit phenomenon can be helpful to promote awareness of this issue and to improve patient care.

Strengths & Limitations

Despite the systematic approach, few clinical studies were retrieved, and data concerning the prevalence of counterfeit PDE5i use is not available on a global scale.

Conclusion

The counterfeit phenomenon is a steadily growing issue, with PDE5i being the most counterfeited medication with potentially large harmful effects on unaware consumers.

Sansone A, Cuzin B, and Jannini EA. Facing Counterfeit Medications in Sexual Medicine. A Systematic Scoping Review on Social Strategies and Technological Solutions. Sex Med 2021;9:100437.

A comparative field evaluation of six medicine quality screening devices in Laos

BACKGROUND

Medicine quality screening devices hold great promise for post-market surveillance (PMS). However, there is little independent evidence on their field utility and usability to inform policy decisions. This pilot study in the Lao PDR tested six devices' utility and usability in detecting substandard and falsified (SF) medicines.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Observational time and motion studies of the inspections by 16 Lao medicine inspectors of 1) the stock of an Evaluation Pharmacy (EP), constructed to resemble a Lao pharmacy, and 2) a sample set of medicines (SSM); were conducted without and with six devices: four handheld spectrometers (two near infrared: MicroPHAZIR RX, NIR-S-G1 & two Raman: Progeny, Truscan RM); one portable mid-infrared spectrometer (4500a), and single-use paper analytical devices (PAD). User experiences were documented by interviews and focus group discussions. Significantly more samples were wrongly categorised as pass/fail with the PAD compared to the other devices in EP inspections (p<0.05). The numbers of samples wrongly classified in EP inspections were significantly lower than in initial visual inspections without devices for 3/6 devices (NIR-S-G1, MicroPHAZIR RX, 4500a). The NIR-S-G1 had the fastest testing time per sample (median 93.5 sec, p<0.001). The time spent on EP visual inspection was significantly shorter when using a device than for inspections without devices, except with the 4500a, risking missing visual clues of samples being SF. The main user errors were the selection of wrong spectrometer reference libraries and wrong user interpretation of PAD results. Limitations included repeated inspections of the EP by the same inspectors with different devices and the small sample size of SF medicines.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

This pilot study suggests policy makers wishing to implement portable screening devices in PMS should be aware that overconfidence in devices may cause harm by reducing inspectors' investment in visual inspection. It also provides insight into the advantages/limitations of diverse screening devices in the hands of end-users.

Rapid determination of eight benzodiazepines in suspected counterfeit pharmaceuticals using surface-enhanced Raman scattering with handheld Raman spectrometers

The excessive prescription of benzodiazepines is putting more people at risk of dependence on these drugs and is exacerbating the fatal overdose toll of opioids. A rapid and sensitive SERS method has been developed for trace detection of select benzodiazepines in low-dosage suspect counterfeit tablets, capsules, and injectable solutions using two different portable handheld Raman spectrometers equipped with either a 785-nm laser or a 1064-nm laser. A total of 169 samples and blanks were examined using five handheld Raman spectrometers, which provided data set of 729 examinations. The extraction/SERS procedures yielded true positive rates above 90% for alprazolam, diazepam, and midazolam using the 1064-nm device and yielded true positive rates above 95% for alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, estazolam, midazolam, and temazepam using the 785-nm device; however, the extraction/SERS procedures yielded true positive rates below 60% for lorazepam and triazolam. The minimum concentration (C_min ) of the benzodiazepine standards that reproducibly yielded a positive match ranged from 1 to 10 μg/ml using the 1064-nm laser device and from 0.5 to 50 μg/ml using the 785-nm laser device. For the analysis of authentic and suspect counterfeit tablets containing these benzodiazepines, the measured C_min ranged between 10 and 15 µg per tablet or capsule for 1064-nm laser device and 1-100 µg per tablet or capsule for 785-nm laser device. The developed methods are simple, rapid, and ideal for screening suspect benzodiazepine-containing pharmaceutical products at satellite laboratories located within or near international mail facilities and express courier hubs.

Evaluation of "Toolkit" consisting of handheld and portable analytical devices for detecting active pharmaceutical ingredients in drug products collected during a simultaneous nation-wide mail blitz

A "toolkit" consisting of a handheld Raman spectrometer equipped with a 1064 nm laser, a portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer and a portable direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometer (DART-MS) was employed in a laboratory setting to examine 82 representative products collected during a nationwide mail blitz for the presence of APIs. These results were compared to those obtained using laboratory-based methods; 8 of the products were not found to contain APIs and 74 of the products were found to contain a total of 88 APIs (65 of the 88 APIs were unique). The individual performance of each device and combined performance of the three-device toolkit were evaluated with regard to true positives, true negatives, false positives and false negatives. Using this toolkit, 81 (92.0 %) of the APIs were detected by at least one technique and 47 (64.8 %) of the APIs were detected by at least two techniques. Seven false negatives (8.0 %) were encountered and while the toolkit yielded 12 false positives, no false positives were detected by more than one technique. Overall, this study demonstrated that when the toolkit detects an API using two or more devices, the results are as reliable as those generated by a full-service laboratory.

Drug Content Uniformity: Quantifying Loratadine in Tablets Using a Created Raman Excipient Spectrum

Raman spectroscopy has proven valuable for determining the composition of manufactured drug products, as well as identifying counterfeit drugs. Here we present a simple method to determine the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) mass percent in a sample that does not require knowledge of the identities or relative mass percents of the inactive pharmaceutical ingredients (excipients). And further, we demonstrated the ability of the method to pass or fail a manufactured drug product batch based on a calculated acceptance value in accordance with the US Pharmacopeia method for content uniformity. The method was developed by fitting the Raman spectra of 30 Claritin^® tablets with weighted percentages of the Raman spectrum of its API, loratadine, and a composite spectrum of the known excipients. The mean loratadine mass of 9.79 ± 40 mg per 100 mg tablet compared favorably to the 10.21 ± 0.63 mg per 100 mg tablet determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, both of which met the acceptance value to pass the 10 mg API product as labelled. The method was then applied to a generic version of the Claritin product that employed different excipients of unknown mass percents. A Raman spectrum representative of all excipients was created by subtracting the API Raman spectrum from the product spectrum. The Raman spectra of the 30 generic tablets were then fit with weighted percents of the pure loratadine spectrum and the created excipient spectrum, and used to determine a mean API mass for the tablets of 10.12 ± 40 mg, again meeting the acceptance value for the 10 mg API product. The data suggest that this simple method could be used to pass or fail manufactured drug product batches in accordance with the US Pharmacopeia method for content uniformity, without knowledge of the excipients.

Trace level detection of select opioids (fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol) in suspect pharmaceutical tablets using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with handheld devices

The opioid crisis in the USA has resulted in over 702,000 overdose fatalities between 1999 and 2017 and can be attributed to over-prescription of opioids and abuse of synthetic opioids in combination with other illicit drugs. A rapid and sensitive SERS method has been developed for trace detection of opioids including fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol in low-dosage suspect tablets using two different handheld Raman spectrometers equipped with 785 and 1064 nm lasers. The method involves a micro-extraction procedure using 10% methanol in deionized water, followed by filtration and addition of colloidal silver and aqueous KBr, resulting in a mixture that can be measured directly via a glass vial. The lowest concentration (C_min ) of fentanyl, tramadol, oxycodone, and hydrocodone standards that yielded a positive match was 250 ng/ml, 5, 10, and 10 μg/ml using the 1064 nm laser device and 100 ng/ml, 1 μg/ml, 500 ng/ml, and 750 ng/ml using the 785 nm laser device, respectively. For the analysis of suspect tablets containing these opioids, the C_min ranges between 5 and 75 µg/ml for 1064 nm laser device and 1 and 50 µg/ml for 785 nm laser device. The overall positive identification rate for all the opioids studied in the suspect counterfeit tablets analyzed ranged from 80% to 100%. The use of SERS for rapid chemical identification at remote sampling sites, such as international mail facilities (IMFs) and express courier hubs (ECHs), provides a rugged, simple, and practical method applicable for point-of-entry sampling and analysis.

A Rapid Detection Method for On-site Screening of Estazolam in Beverages with Au@Ag Core-shell Nanoparticles Paper-based SERS Substrate

Estazolam (EST) is a common sedative-hypnotic drug with a risk of abuse. Therefore, rapid on-site detection of EST is necessary to control the abuse of EST. In this paper, a fast, simple, and sensitive method is demonstrated for the detection of EST in both water and beverages, using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) techniques. Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) assembled on the filter paper as a SERS substrate exhibit good applicability and practicality. At the same time, density functional theory (DFT) is used to assign the vibration mode of the EST molecules, which can be used as a guide for subsequent experiments. The lowest detectable concentration of EST in aqueous solution can be as low as 5 mg/L, and signal uniformity is excellent (RSD687 = 5.56%, RSD1000 = 4.35%). In addition, EST components artificially added to orange juice and pomegranate juice can be effectively detected by simple pretreatment with a minimum detection concentration as low as 10 mg/L. Therefore, this study found that the use of Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles paper-based SERS substrate provides a quick and easy method for the detection of illegally added drugs in beverages.

Evaluation of the analytical performances of two Raman handheld spectrophotometers for pharmaceutical solid dosage form quantitation

This paper addresses the issue of pharmaceutical solid dosage form quantitation using handheld Raman spectrophotometers. The two spectrophotometers used are designed with different technologies: one allows getting a more representative sampling with the Orbital Raster Scanning technology and the other one allows setting acquisition parameters. The goal was to evaluate which technology could provide the best analytical results. Several parameters were optimized to get the lowest prediction error in the end. The main objective of this study was to evaluate if this kind of instrument would be able to identify substandard medicines. For that purpose, two case-study were explored. At first, a full ICH Q2 (R1) compliant validation was performed for moderate Raman scatterer active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a specific formulation. It was successfully validated in the ±15% relative total error acceptance limits, with a RMSEP of 0.85% (w/w). Subsequently, it was interesting to evaluate the influence of excipients when the API is a high Raman scatterer. For that purpose, a multi-formulation model was developed and successfully validated with a RMSEP of 2.98% (w/w) in the best case. These two studies showed that thanks to the optimization of acquisition parameters, Raman handheld spectrophotometers methods were validated for two different case-study and could be applied to identify substandard medicines.

A Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectral Library of Important Drugs Associated With Point-of-Care and Field Applications

During the past decade, the ability of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to measure extremely low concentrations, such as mg/L and below, and the availability of hand-held Raman spectrometers, has led to a significant growth in the number and variety of applications of SERS to real-world problems. Most of these applications involve the measurement of drugs, such as quantifying medication in patients, identifying illicit drugs in impaired drivers, and more recently, identifying drugs used as weapons. Similar to Raman spectroscopy, most of the point-of-care and field applications involve the identification of the drug to determine the course of action. However, unlike Raman spectroscopy, spectral libraries are not readily available to perform the necessary identification. In a large part, this is due to the uniqueness of the commercially available SERS substrates, each of which can produce different spectra for the same drug. In an effort to overcome this limitation, we have measured numerous drugs using the most common, and readily available SERS material and hand-held Raman analyzers, specifically gold colloids and analyzers using 785 nm laser excitation. Here we present the spectra of some 39 drugs of current interest, such as buprenorphine, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, and fentanyl, which we hope will aid in the development of current and future SERS drug analysis applications.

Identification of Opioids and Related Substances using Handheld Raman Spectrometers

This study describes the performance of handheld Raman devices for detecting one hundred opioids and related substances including fentanyl and several analogs. Using a single "parent" device, signatures (spectra) with excellent signal-to-noise ratios were generated using <5 mg of most compounds. The signatures were added to a method (library), which was electronically transferred to three "daughter" devices. The devices were able to discriminate different salt forms and isomers. On average, the daughter devices yielded a true-positive rate of 97.3% for generating an alarm for opioids and were 93.3% effective for correctly identifying the opioid. The devices yielded true-negative, false-positive and false-negative rates of 100%, 0%, and 2.7%, respectively, where false negatives were due to weak signal and fluorescence. These data demonstrate that the parent-daughter electronic transfer method was successful and effective, which permits the ability to develop methods in the laboratory that can be seamlessly pushed out to field devices.

Quantitative Measurements of Codeine and Fentanyl on a Surface-Enhanced Raman-Active Pad Test

The USA is in the midst of an opioid crisis that included over 60,000 overdose fatalities in 2017, mostly unintentional. This is due to excessive use of prescription opioids and the use of very strong synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, mixed with illicit street drugs. The ability to rapidly determine if people or packages entering the country have or contain drugs could reduce their availability, and thereby decrease the use of illicit drugs. In an effort to address this problem, we have been investigating the ability of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to detect trace amounts of opioids on clothing and packages. Here, we report the measurement of codeine and fentanyl at 100 ng/mL for 5 min on a pad impregnated with gold colloids, as well as a preliminary measurement of 500 pg of fentanyl on a glass surface using one of these pads. The calculated limit of detection for this measurement was 40 pg. This data strongly suggests that these pads, used with portable Raman analyzers, would be invaluable to airport security, drug raids, crime scenes, and forensic analysis.

Process analytical technologies and injectable drug products: Is there a future?

Parametric release was the first subset of real time release testing (RTRT), applied to terminally sterilised injectable drug products. The objective was to offer the industry an alternative to the time and money consuming sterility testing, without compromising the sterility of the products. The rationale was that quality cannot be tested into products, instead it must be planned (the principle of quality by design, QbD). This can be implemented by setting appropriate in-process controls supported on process analytical technologies (PAT). Two of the most versatile and promising PAT tools are the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the Raman spectroscopy. However, their application to injectable drug product development and manufacturing has been scarce. This review has the objective to provide a framework for the practical implementation of the QbD approach to injectable formulations, including application of diverse risk assessment and factorial design tools. Finally, the actual application of PAT, namely NIRS and Raman spectroscopy, to injectable drug product analysis is addressed.

Field detection devices for screening the quality of medicines: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Poor quality medicines have devastating consequences. A plethora of innovative portable devices to screen for poor quality medicines has become available, leading to hope that they could empower medicine inspectors and enhance surveillance. However, information comparing these new technologies is woefully scarce.

METHODS

We undertook a systematic review of Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and SciFinder databases up to 30 April 2018. Scientific studies evaluating the performances/abilities of portable devices to assess any aspect of the quality of pharmaceutical products were included.

RESULTS

Forty-one devices, from small benchtop spectrometers to 'lab-on-a-chip' single-use devices, with prices ranging from US$20 000, were included. Only six devices had been field-tested (GPHF-Minilab, CD3/CD3+, TruScan RM, lateral flow dipstick immunoassay, CBEx and Speedy Breedy). The median (range) number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) assessed per device was only 2 (1-20). The majority of devices showed promise to distinguish genuine from falsified medicines. Devices with the potential to assay API (semi)-quantitatively required consumables and were destructive (GPHF-Minilab, PharmaChk, aPADs, lateral flow immunoassay dipsticks, paper-based microfluidic strip and capillary electrophoresis), except for spectroscopic devices. However, the 10 spectroscopic devices tested for their abilities to quantitate APIs required processing complex API-specific calibration models. Scientific evidence of the ability of the devices to accurately test liquid, capsule or topical formulations, or to distinguish between chiral molecules, was limited. There was no comment on cost-effectiveness and little information on where in the pharmaceutical supply chain these devices could be best deployed.

CONCLUSION

Although a diverse range of portable field detection devices for medicines quality screening is available, there is a vitally important lack of independent evaluation of the majority of devices, particularly in field settings. Intensive research is needed in order to inform national medicines regulatory authorities of the optimal choice of device(s) to combat poor quality medicines.

Raman spectroscopy in pharmaceutical research and industry

In the fast-developing fields of pharmaceutical research and industry, the implementation of Raman spectroscopy and related technologies has been very well received due to the combination of chemical selectivity and the option for non-invasive analysis of samples. This chapter explores established and potential applications of Raman spectroscopy, confocal Raman microscopy and related techniques from the early stages of drug development research up to the implementation of these techniques in process analytical technology (PAT) concepts for large-scale production in the pharmaceutical industry. Within this chapter, the implementation of Raman spectroscopy in the process of selection and optimisation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and investigation of the interaction with excipients is described. Going beyond the scope of early drug development, the reader is introduced to the use of Raman techniques for the characterization of complex drug delivery systems, highlighting the technical requirements and describing the analysis of qualitative and quantitative composition as well as spatial component distribution within these pharmaceutical systems. Further, the reader is introduced to the application of Raman techniques for performance testing of drug delivery systems addressing drug release kinetics and interactions with biological systems ranging from single cells up to complex tissues. In the last part of this chapter, the advantages and recent developments of integrating Raman technologies into PAT processes for solid drug delivery systems and biologically derived pharmaceutics are discussed, demonstrating the impact of the technique on current quality control standards in industrial production and providing good prospects for future developments in the field of quality control at the terminal part of the supply chain and various other fields like individualized medicine.

On the way from the active drug molecule (API) in the research laboratory to the marketed medicine in the pharmacy, therapeutic efficacy of the active molecule and safety of the final medicine for the patient are of utmost importance. For each step, strict regulatory requirements apply which demand for suitable analytical techniques to acquire robust data to understand and control design, manufacturing and industrial large-scale production of medicines. In this context, Raman spectroscopy has come to the fore due to the combination of chemical selectivity and the option for non-invasive analysis of samples. Following the technical advancements in Raman equipment and analysis software, Raman spectroscopy and microscopy proofed to be valuable methods with versatile applications in pharmaceutical research and industry, starting from the analysis of single drug molecules as well as complex multi-component formulations up to automatized quality control during industrial production.

Quantitative Raman assays for on-site analysis of stockpiled drugs

We present a rapid Raman assay for on-site analysis of stockpiled drugs in aqueous solution. This approach was tested on Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate). Tamiflu is a drug approved by the FDA for treatment of influenza and is the most common antiviral included in stockpiles for use in the event of a national emergency. Rapid assays were performed on three concentrations (30, 45, and 75 mg) of oseltamivir using three different portable & handheld Raman instruments. PLS regression models were developed to establish a calibration curve and applied to the Tamiflu samples. Raman assay values were compared against the standard HPLC assay to demonstrate the viability of this approach, yielding an average assay value within 0.3% of that obtained from the HPLC analysis for the 35 different capsules analyzed. The Raman method demonstrates the potential for rapid screening of stockpiled pharmaceuticals on-site using portable Raman instrumentation and readily available consumables for sample preparation. In addition to routine screening to ensure product quality past the expiration date, this approach could also be used to assist in rapid deployment of such medications in the case of a national emergency.