Metals and Trace Metals Testing
With increasing attention directed toward bio/pharmaceutical product safety, the importance of screening for trace metal contamination is becoming more important. Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing's network of laboratories offer an array of testing services for a variety of applications that contribute to product integrity, including drug substance and raw materials assays, cleaning validation, media screening, extractable/leachable studies and final product assay.
Our expertise and instrumentation enable analysts to offer a wide range of assays according to pharmacopeias (USP, Ph. Eur., BP, JP, etc.), including support for the launch of the harmonized approach to elemental impurities ICH Q3D, as well as other customer specifications. Capabilities are available using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, Flame AA, Graphite Furnace AA and Cold Vapor AA (mercury and arsenic).
Why Choose Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing?
- We have more than 25 years of experience developing and executing methods for trace metals analysis, using modern quantitative technology for pharmaceuticals.
- Our Metals Team has the expertise to troubleshoot complex sample matrices and method challenges, including onboarding Silicone Oil testing in Antifoam/Simethicone matrices.
- Our on-site pharmacopeia liaison will contact USP and Ph. Eur. for clarification.
- Our regulatory experience enables the team to ask the right questions and determine the most appropriate testing approach, delivering service that meets clients' needs-whether a non-GMP general screening method or a validated GMP analysis that will withstand regulatory review.
- Comprehensive instrument capacity allows for rapid turnaround time.
Key Factors
In order to develop the best approach, the Metals Team begins by determining whether the application requires validated or non-validated methods. A fully validated approach may require multiple methods, depending on the material and metals. A critical step in determining the most appropriate analytical approach is to address the following key criteria:
- Define need for a general screening method vs. specific elements of interest.
- Define whether testing is needed for support of risk assessments or quality control.
- Establish material specification limits as applicable.
- Evaluate material solubility.
Analytical Approaches
We provide a number of approaches that can be used to perform Trace Metals testing and offer pricing strategies to match a selected approach, including the following tests:
- ICP Screening
- ICP Limit
- ICP Quantitative
- Flame AA
- Graphite Furnace AA
- Cold Vapor AA (Mercury and Arsenic)
Support for Elemental Impurities by USP and ICH Q3D
- USP <232>, Ph. Eur. 5.20
- Support to establish the target limit (J) for each element of interest
- Material-specific method development, ICP-OES or ICP-MS
- Method Validation for limit test or quantitative test as outlined in USP <233> and Ph. Eur. 2.4.20
- GMP Release Testing
- Method Onboarding
The Methods
The following matrix will help determine the instrumentation that best meets testing needs and provide general instrument performance guidelines, which may vary by method. For example, sensitivity limits are dependent on sample digestion approach, sample mass and instrument wavelength.
