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The rapidly increasing preference towards combination pharmaceutical products continues to fuel innovation, while presenting unique challenges in implementing a container closure integrity (CCI) testing strategy. Common examples of combination products include prefilled syringes, pen injectors, inhalers, and drug-eluting stents, orthopedic products, infusion pumps and more. The packaging for combination products can be just as complex as the products themselves. Hence, container closure integrity testing in line with current USP <1207> guidance and regulation is critical to ensure package integrity.

Techniques to ensure CCI: Helium leak testing & Microcurrent HVLD technology

Helium leak testing refers to the process of finding leaks in some type of enclosed or sealed system using helium as a “tracer” gas and measuring its concentration as it escapes due to leakage. Apart from being an ideal solution for ensuring Container Closure Integrity, the technology is also applicable in package design, monitoring product quality, failure analysis and line set up and validation.

Under this method, a helium leak detector otherwise known as Mass Spectrometer Leak Detector (MSLD) is used to identify and calculate size of the leak. The test part is first connected to a leak detector and then the tracer gas, helium is introduced. In the presence of a leak, helium escapes from the test parts and this partial pressure is measured and results are displayed on the meter. Helium Leak Detection per ASTM F2391, has long been recognized by the FDA as a consensus standard for package integrity evaluation. The test method is also referenced in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter on Container Closure Integrity (CCI) – USP <1207>.

PTI’s MicroCurrent HVLD technology is a non-destructive, non-invasive container closure integrity test method that is found to be highly effective across applications such as pre-filled syringes, vials, cartridges, ampoules, BFS, bottles and pouches. This technique can precisely detect any leak in a wide range of liquid-filled products including extremely low conductivity sterile water for injection (WFI) and proteinaceous products with suspensions. Under this method, the sealed container is scanned using electrode probes to detect the presence of any leak. Defects in the container as well as its approximate location can be identified by analyzing a change in the current flow. MicroCurrent HVLD technology utilizes about 50% less voltage and exposes the product and environment to less than 5% of the voltage when compared to conventional HVLD solutions. It is one of the most effective CCI technologies for all parenteral and biologic products.

Benefits of PTI’s MicroCurrent HVLD technology

• Non-destructive, non-invasive, no sample preparation
• Highly effective across all parenteral products, including extremely low conductivity liquids (WFI)
• Ensure higher levels of accuracy and reliability in results
• Offline and 100% online inspection at high production speeds
• Simplifies the inspection and validation process
• Referenced in USP 1207 Guideline