Kavli Oxford researchers help to identify rapid, low-cost tests aimed at preventing child deaths from contaminated medicinal syrups
Kavli Oxford researchers help to identify rapid, low-cost tests that can prevent child deaths from contaminated medicinal syrups
Researchers from the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery (Kavli Oxford) are part of a collaborative Oxford-led effort to develop simple, rapid and low-cost tests capable of detecting toxic contaminants in medicinal syrups – an issue linked to multiple child fatalities worldwide.
Contaminated paediatric syrups caused more than 300 deaths in 2022 across several countries, with a further 24 reported deaths in 2025, underlining the urgent need for accessible screening methods across pharmaceutical supply chains.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, the interdisciplinary team, including Kavli Oxford researchers from the University of Oxford’s Department of Biochemistry, demonstrated that readily available, inexpensive testing tools can be repurposed to detect harmful substances such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.
Among the approaches tested were:
- Alcohol test strips, capable of detecting contaminants in syrups and raw materials in under two minutes
- Disposable breathalysers, which can identify contamination in raw ingredients in as little as ten seconds.
These methods cost less than £1 per test and require minimal training, offering a practical alternative to conventional laboratory techniques such as gas chromatography, which are slower, resource-intensive, and require specialised expertise.
Professor Nicole Zitzmann, Dr Bevin Gangadharan and Benediktus Yohan Arman
Dr Bevin Gangadharan (Department of Biochemistry and Kavli Oxford), co-lead author of the study, said:
The contaminants are usually detected by gas chromatography or thin-layer chromatography, both of which are time-consuming, use harmful solvents, and require trained personnel. Our approach is rapid, uses water, and our publication includes a simple step-by-step protocol sheet that can be easily followed by inspectors, medicine regulators, and syrup manufacturers.
Professor Nicole Zitzmann (Department of Biochemistry and Kavli Oxford), also a co-lead author, added: 'Our findings show that solutions to this devastating global problem may already be within reach. By adapting tools that are widely available and inexpensive, we can enable on-the-spot testing to protect vulnerable children.'
The research forms part of a broader collaboration spanning multiple departments and research groups at Oxford and beyond, reflecting the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches to addressing complex global health challenges. While further validation and implementation work will be needed, these findings point towards scalable, accessible screening strategies that could help reduce the risk of contaminated medicines entering supply chains and contribute to preventing avoidable loss of life.
