British Pharmacopoeia chemical reference substances

BPCRS = British Pharmacopoeia Chemical Reference Substance,... 

The BP Commission can also call on expertise available in the British Pharmacopoeia laboratories situated in the premises of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in West London. The BP laboratory carries out and validates assay procedures for the Commission and in addition, is responsible for the procurement, establishment, maintenance and sale of British Pharmacopoeia Chemical Reference Substances (BPCRS). These reference substances, as their name suggests, are authentic samples of a drug or decomposition product which are used as standards in a drug assay. The BP laboratory also fulfils an important forensic role in the control of counterfeit medicines. With the advent of the internet, the public can easily gain access to supplies of prescription-only medicines online. These medicines are often adulterated, contaminated or simply counterfeit, and comparison with authentic samples is necessary to ensure that the correct preparation is supplied. 

Authentic IR reference spectra covering the range 2000-500 cm are published in conjunction with monographs for substances of the British Pharmacopoeia (BPC, London). They are also supplied by the European Pharmacopoeia EDQM, Strasbourg) for a more limited number of official substances, where the cost, or toxicity, of a suitable chemical Reference Substance, or restrictions on its supply by post, favour identification by comparison with an official Reference Spectrum. The International Pharmacopoeia (WHO Collaborating Centre for International CRS, Stockholm) will supply on request paper or electronic copies of an authentic Reference Spectrum covering the full mid-IR range, i.e. 4000-600 cm . ... 

---