Using a Smartphone Camera to Measure Acetaminophen (paracetamol) Levels

What is it about?

This research shows a new, easy way to measure acetaminophen (paracetamol), a common painkiller, using just a smartphone camera and a free app. Normally, labs use expensive instruments to measure acetaminophen by detecting a blue colour formed in a chemical reaction. In this study, the same colour change is photographed with a smartphone, and the app analyses the colour values to calculate the amount of acetaminophen present. The method is accurate, works for very small amounts, and gives results similar to traditional lab equipment. This makes it a cheap and accessible alternative for checking medicine quality, especially in places without advanced labs.

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Why is it important?

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is one of the most widely used painkillers in the world, but in some places, fake or poor-quality medicines are a big problem. If a tablet doesn’t have the right amount of acetaminophen, it might not work or could even be harmful. Traditional lab tests to check medicine quality require expensive equipment and trained staff, which many clinics and pharmacies don’t have. The paper gives a student a practical that can be undertaken using a smartphone