Measuring Color Consistency With Spectrophotometers
Spectrophotometers use color technology to measure slight variations in pharmaceutical powders and tablets. The determination of color consistency is an important step in the blending process of medications since the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is frequently a powder blended with excipient powders to create tablets.
When adding the API to the excipient powder, spectrophotometers like the UltraScan PRO offer extended wavelength measurements to closely monitor the powder composition and provide a quantitative analysis of the sample. This data shows the levels of color consistency which can then be used to create repeatability from batch to batch. This is extremely important when trying to monitor microscopic amounts of API in powder mixtures that are undetectable through human eye analysis.
Blending is a crucial step in the development of pharmaceuticals and color consistency measurements are essential for creating a product where the API is evenly distributed throughout. This is important for maintaining the right dosages of API in the final product. If errors are made in the blending stages, it can lead to expensive reformulation or recalls further down the line. Most importantly, improper balances in these ingredients can negatively impact a medication's safety and efficacy for patients.
Spectrophotometric solutions like HunterLab UltraScan VIS help uphold blending quality and consistency for both large-molecule and small-molecule compositions. These devices quickly and accurately quantify chromatic data across the full visible spectrum. Evaluate samples with either specular included or specular excluded measurements based on your facility and product needs.
Advantages of Spectrophotometric Analysis in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Spectrophotometric analysis is ideal for measuring color consistency in pharmaceutical powders and tablets for multiple reasons.
1. Sampling Efficiency
These powerful devices are nondestructive and compatible with online measurements. This approach allows for continual monitoring of the product without the need for sample removal, saving both time and money.
Additionally, HunterLab spectrophotometers are engineered to deliver highly precise results on small sample sizes. This feature enables your facility to reduce waste and conserve expensive pharmaceutical ingredients.
2. Better Quality Assurance
Once formulations are pressed into tablet form, spectrophotometric instrumentation can be used to measure these samples using specific viewing angles and geometric principles to obtain the most accurate and reliable information. Doing so enables you to monitor product stability over time for higher quality assurance.
3. Enhanced Compliance
Integrating a spectrophotometer into your pharmaceutical color workflows supports conformance with industry standards and regulatory compliance. For example, HunterLab UltraScan PRO and UltraScan VIS meet the guidelines of USP Methods 631 and 1061, EP 2.2.2 Method III, and EP 2.2.1 Opalescence frameworks.
