Maintaining Medication Stability: The Importance of Headspace Testing in Medical Vial Packaging

Headspace testing is an important factor when it comes to testing the efficacy of vials for pharmaceutical use. Keeping medical products sterile and free of contaminants is an essential function of their packaging, and headspace gas analysis offers an accurate picture of a package’s performance in relation to the critical protection of the drugs supplied in vials.

Headspace testing for vial packaging

There are several packaging elements that could cause critical failure, including closure defects and the water or oxygen permeation of films. These can be tested to a high degree of accuracy, offering peace of mind that vials will reach their destination fit for use.

Solutions such as the Ambient Oxygen Ingress Rate (AOIR) method can be used to measure the permeability of oxygen through films in finished packaging, allowing the accurate assessment of the packaging that the vials are transported in.

Headspace testing for filled vials

Headspace oxygen analyzing is a non-invasive technique for determining the oxygen content in the headspace of a vial pre-filled with medicine. It makes it possible to work out the degradation risk posed to the pharmaceutical caused by leaks or permeation through any weaknesses in the barrier the packaging offers.

Exposure to oxygen or water vapor can compromise the integrity of the drug, meaning an accurate measurement of permeation rates is essential, to help ensure it reaches its destination fit for use.

Non-destructive headspace testing

Headspace gas chromatography offers a non-invasive method for analyzing the gas in a headspace. It is highly repeatable, due to its non-destructive nature, and can help build a true and consistent picture of permeation rates.

Gaspace Advance Micro

The Gaspace Advance Micro headspace gas analyzer is designed to test very low volumes of headspace and can test spaces of less than 1cc, perfect for small vials or other pharmaceutical applications.

Gaspace Advance Head Space Analyzers

Ideal for pharmaceutical applications including the packaging and testing of vials, this useful test and measurement solution offers automatic calibration, diagnostics and control. It gives repeatable and accurate results and is a HACCP compliant machine that promises exceptional performance.

Systech Oxysense 5250i

Another excellent option for vial testing is this non-invasive oxygen monitoring and permeation system. It’s suitable for testing headspace as well as permeation and offers automatic data logging with real time graphical and log display, to make assessment easy.

For an idea of how gaspace and headspace analyzers could fit into your testing process, check out this short video detailing our Systech Headspace Analyzer Series.

Headspace analysis with Industrial Physics

With decades of experience and specialist brands dedicated to offering high-quality solutions to the pharmaceutical industry, Industrial Physics is your perfect partner. Get in touch with our knowledgeable team to find out more about our headspace solutions analyzers and how they might aid your test and measurement process, or browse our range of oxygen headspace testing solutions.