Why Refractometry Falls Short in Hospital Medication Verification
Hospitals are stepping up their game when it comes to medication safety, especially with growing concerns around drug tampering and diversion. In-house verification tools are becoming the go-to solution over outsourcing or relying solely on traditional surveillance. But not all verification methods are created equal. One commonly used tool—refractometry—has some major drawbacks when it comes to verifying controlled substances.
The Limits of Refractometry
Refractometry measures how light bends through a liquid to determine its identity or concentration. While it’s been used in labs for years, applying it in a hospital setting comes with real challenges:
Limited Accuracy – Refractometry can tell if a substance’s refractive index matches a known value, but it can’t differentiate between similar-looking drugs or detect dilution with certain substances. That’s a major blind spot when verifying controlled substances.
Complex Workflow – The process requires calibration, proper sample handling, and careful interpretation of results. That adds extra steps to an already busy pharmacy workflow.
Not Ideal for Point-of-Care Use – Refractometers are typically benchtop devices, meaning samples must be transported to a pharmacy lab, delaying verification.
Consumable Costs & Maintenance – Regular calibration and specialized consumables add ongoing costs, making it less practical for routine use in a hospital setting.
A Better Approach: WasteWitness
WasteWitness solves these challenges with an advanced verification system that works in real time, at the point of care. Instead of relying on refractive index measurements, it uses AI-assisted verification to confirm both drug identity and concentration instantly.
More Reliable Results – Unlike refractometry, WasteWitness generates a unique molecular fingerprint of the substance, ensuring accurate verification.
Seamless Workflow Integration – The system is designed to work within existing medication disposal workflows, making it easy to adopt.
Portable & Fast – Instead of transporting samples to a lab, verification happens immediately at the point of waste, reducing delays and improving efficiency.
Better Compliance & Security – By providing real-time verification, WasteWitness enhances compliance efforts and reduces the risk of diversion.
The Bottom Line
Refractometry has its place in scientific research, but when it comes to hospital medication verification, it’s just not the right tool for the job. WasteWitness offers a faster, more accurate, and more practical solution that fits seamlessly into hospital workflows. As medication safety standards evolve, real-time, AI-assisted verification is the smarter way forward.