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Color-coding technology may be one of the most valuable tools to consider when it comes to prescription medications. The rainbow of pills lining the shelves of our local drug stores do not simply appeal to an eccentric and liberal palate; they are a product of color-coding technology that is used to provide security to both the patient and the healthcare industry. Pharmaceutical companies know the importance of quality control and color application in the production of prescription medications and the equipment needed to maintain safety. Spectrophotometers provide the essential piece of technology needed to monitor and develop pharmaceutical products that are easy to identify, which can play a crucial role towards eliminating the extensive margin of human error.

Although advancements in pharmaceuticals and medications have led to a significant increase in quality of life, the variety and sheer number of prescription medications on the market today have greatly increased the numbers of errors. Today, more medical mistakes are linked to prescription drugs than any other cause, and have created a crisis in the healthcare industry that has led to financial and even fatal consequences.

Taking pill identification beyond “Little, Yellow”

Research by the Institute of Medicine has shown that approximately four out of five adults take some form of medication every week, and nearly one-third of those individuals are taking a least five or more various pills per day. With the number of prescription drugs at an all-time high, the ability to differentiate between liquid, powder, capsule, or pill is getting more and more difficult and the human eye alone cannot accurately differentiate between them. Added to the fact that prescriptions today are labeled with names that sound and look very similar, any miscalculations can have extremely harmful outcomes.That is why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), and the Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis (DMEPA) are all working together to create and enforce stricter guidelines for specific labeling and advancement in spectrophotometers, color-technology, and the color-coding of prescription medications.

Spectroscopic imaging can provide vital information about pharmaceutical quality. Image Source: Flickr user Robson

Modern medicine allows us to treat more illnesses than ever before, reducing human suffering and extending lifespans beyond what was possible even in the recent past. In order to fully harness the potential of pharmacological development and adhere to industry regulations, pharmaceutical manufacturing employs strict assessment protocols, ensuring optimal quality control and consumer safety. Spectral analysis using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopic imaging is a widely used, effective, and easily integrated method of analysis that quickly provides valuable information regarding the composition of pharmaceuticals. By integrating NIR spectrophotometers in pharmaceutical production lines, manufacturers can obtain detailed measurements of a variety of drug features to guarantee efficacy and identify contaminants that compromise the potency and safety of the product in question.

Spectral analysis ensures that pharmaceutical products are blended for optimal efficiency and safety. Image Source: Flickr user davidsancar

Pharmaceuticals are available in a variety of compounds and formulas, and color measurement instrumentation is necessary for ensuring quality and safety in these products. Image Source: Flickr user psyberartist

Pharmaceuticals continue to revolutionize the healthcare industry as more research and money is spent developing lifesaving drugs. With so many varieties and generic alternatives, laboratories and pharmacies must rely on color measurement tools for drug stability, accuracy, and safety. Even slight differences in generic alternatives must be carefully monitored to ensure that each dose is properly measured and consistent from batch to batch. Spectrophotometers offer the highest level of color measurement technology in the pharmaceutical industry and are an essential tool for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

The growing use of blister packaging shows that visual identification and color perception are paramount in this industry for both safety and consumer recognition. Image Source: Flickr user Canned Muffins

If you watch television, chances are you have witnessed the marketing attempts of various pharmaceutical companies and their efforts to persuade your choices. These marketing ploys are designed to get your attention, but what you may not be aware of is the strategic use of color in both packaging to develop a subconscious association with their product. Pharmaceutical packaging color and drug expectancy have been directly linked to consumer perception. With an increase in direct-to-consumer advertising, new studies on how color influences consumer expectations and choices are getting more attention than ever. Evidence shows that color recognition greatly influences drug expectancy and perception, affecting consumer choice in both prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications.

With pharmaceutical and OTC sales on the rise, there has been an increased need for quality packaging that serves as both a visual communication tool in addition to ensuring the safety of these products. Research has determined that color significantly impacts consumer expectancy of a drug and this data has led to studies on color-coding and categorization. The results indicate that perceived potency, as well as gender affiliation, are both linked to color and/or the lightness or darkness of a medication.1

With the use of color technology, optimizing color can be an influential tool in the marketability of these products and a powerful tool in brand name recognition.2 Both packaging and product color work together to influence the consumer, so understanding the importance of color technology and analysis within this industry is quickly becoming an essential skill in order to stay competitive within this market.

Color measurement instruments can provide you with color consistency, and ensure that your liquid lipsticks dry down to the perfect shade. Image Source: Pixabay user gornostai_nastya

Over the past few years, there’s been a surge in popularity for liquid lipsticks. What began as a niche product made only by a handful of cosmetics brands has now become a staple in nearly every company’s product line. Customers love liquid lipsticks because they combine the long-lasting wear and opaque pigmentation of a cream lipstick, but apply as easily as a sheer lipgloss.

Liquid lipstick is truly the best of both worlds for makeup fans, yet in order to take advantage of these benefits, objective color measurement is necessary to ensure that your product is as richly-pigmented as possible. Unlike a lipgloss or a lip tint, which can be a little sheer, a true liquid lipstick needs to be completely opaque, preferably with just one coat of application.1 Although this is a difficult feat to accomplish, today’s sophisticated color measurement instruments make the process as easy as possible.

Quality Control for Liquid Lipsticks Differs from Creams

One of the most common mistakes that cosmetics companies make when they formulate a liquid lipstick is that they treat the product just like a cream lipstick or liquid gloss. However, there is one factor that impacts liquid lipstick more than these other types of lip products: oxidation.2 While a cream lipstick might oxidize slightly after application, this usually doesn’t significantly alter the overall color of the lipstick— the cream looks about the same inside of the component as it does on a person’s lips. Similarly, a gloss that never dries down will generally look the same inside of the applicator as it does on the skin.

A liquid lipstick, however, can vary greatly in color after it’s been applied to the lips. Because this product goes on wet and has to dry in the air, exposure to oxygen alters the color, usually making it darker. For instance, it may appear deep pink in color inside of the bottle, but as it dries down completely on the lips its hue might transform into a deeper berry color due to oxidation. To account for this oxidizing effect and create the final hues you desire, you’ll need to test your liquid lipsticks using an objective color measurement instrument like a spectrophotometer.

A liquid lipstick often changes in color as it dries down, meaning that its application is slightly different than a cream lipstick or liquid lipgloss. Image Source: Flickr user Abi Porter

Formulating purple eyeshadows presents unique challenges for cosmetics manufacturers. Image Source: Unsplash user freestocks.org

For Halloween this year, I need to find a bright, vibrant purple eyeshadow to match my costume. I thought a purple eyeshadow would be easy to find, but I quickly realized how finicky this color can be. I swatched sample shade after sample shade on the back of my hand, yet I still couldn’t find the perfect eyeshadow. Products that looked highly pigmented and intensely purple in the pan would become streaky and sheer against my skin or would turn a strange shade of chalky grey.

Cosmetics manufacturers understand this struggle well. Creating formulations for purple eyeshadow has always been notoriously difficult. Even if your formula appears richly-colored when it’s first mixed, this color might not translate well once it’s applied. Today’s modern spectrophotometers allow you to address your formulation challenges through instrumental color measurement, giving you the data you need to create the perfect blend.

Achieving color measurement accuracy for purple eyeshadow can be difficult because this color is rarely found in nature. Image Source: Pexels user kinkate

Pharmaceutical grade starch is a commonly used excipient in the formulation of medications. Image Source: Flickr user CIAT

American consumers are more aware than ever when it comes to the ingredients we put into our bodies. Gluten free, peanut free, dairy free, etc.; the list goes on and on.  While food packaging clearly labels these ingredients, many consumers overlook these additives in the drugs and medications they take each day. However, the ingredients found in today’s pharmaceuticals are also subject to strict regulations to ensure safety and quality and require accurate analysis to meet industry standards.

Food grade additives are a commonly found in many of the drugs and medications we use on a regular basis. For example, pharmaceutical grade talc and/or starch are often used to create a base for active ingredients and these fillers comprise a large percentage of the product we ingest. Product color and purity are a major concern when it comes to these additives and color standards for pharmaceutical grade starch and talc are necessary to achieve desired results. Color measurement instrumentation is an important tool when it comes to quality control. Spectral analysis provides the information needed to meet industry standards and monitor color changes in formulations.

Pharmaceutical grade starch is an abundant natural resource found around the world. Monitoring quality and color play an important role in drug formulation and consistency. Image Source: Flickr user CIAT