NOTRE DAME A chemistry research team at St. Marys College has created a new tool to fight the world's counterfeit drug problem.

Its through an inexpensive paper-based test that can be used to screen for phony pain relievers.

The paper analytical device (PAD) is the size of a business card and offers results in less than five minutes. Its a technology that could uncover fake drugs that promise cures for everything from malaria to the flu.

Counterfeit drugs are a serious problem in developing countries.

The World Health Organization estimates that 10-30% of the drug supply in developing countries are made up of counterfeit medicines, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths a year. Officials blame crime rings, which profit from selling pills that contain plaster of Paris, baking soda or other inexpensive ingredients.

St. Marys has applied for a U.S. patent for the PAD, the first time the Catholic, liberal arts womens college has applied for a patent.

Panadol long has been among the most common, standard pain relieving drugs counterfeited around the world, said St. Marys chemistry professor Toni Barstis, who led the team. In the past, you could just look at the labeling and packaging and know if it was counterfeit. Now, they do such a good job with the package design, its hard to determine whether its a package of the genuine medicine or a fake that contains no acetaminophen or even ingredients that may be harmful.

Barstis and two members of her team, a St. Mary's chemistry student and a recent graduate, presented their research results upon invitation Sunday in Philadelphia at the 244th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

The St. Mary's researchers developed a chemically treated paper that allows a person to swipe a pill onto the business card size paper and dip the paper into water. Color changes on the paper indicate both suspicious and authentic ingredients. The general public will be able to perform the test, creating a much less expensive and less time-consuming process.

"I can't imagine a more supportive, energetic and demanding mentor than Dr. Barstis," said student researcher Diana Vega Pantoja. "She is passionate about getting women interested in science in general, not only chemistry."

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St. Mary's researchers unveil new test to combat fake drug problem