Skip to main content
  • Main menu
  • User menu
  • Search

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Email Alerts
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use
  • About PDA JPST
    • JPST Editors and Editorial Board
    • About/Vision/Mission
    • Paper of the Year
  • Author & Reviewer Resources
    • Author Resources / Submit
    • Reviewer Resources
  • JPST Access and Subscriptions
    • PDA Members
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Nonmember Access
  • Support
    • Join PDA
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Advertising
    • CiteTrack
  • .
    • Visit PDA
    • PDA Letter
    • Technical Reports
    • news uPDATe
    • Bookstore

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
  • .
    • Visit PDA
    • PDA Letter
    • Technical Reports
    • news uPDATe
    • Bookstore
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Email Alerts
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use
  • About PDA JPST
    • JPST Editors and Editorial Board
    • About/Vision/Mission
    • Paper of the Year
  • Author & Reviewer Resources
    • Author Resources / Submit
    • Reviewer Resources
  • JPST Access and Subscriptions
    • PDA Members
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Nonmember Access
  • Support
    • Join PDA
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Advertising
    • CiteTrack
  • Follow pda on Twitter
  • Visit PDA on LinkedIn
  • Visit pda on Facebook
Research ArticleResearch

Method Development for Container Closure Integrity Evaluation via Headspace Gas Ingress by Using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy

Ken G. Victor, Lauren Levac, Michael Timmins and James Veale
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology November 2017, 71 (6) 429-453; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5731/pdajpst.2017.007518
Ken G. Victor
Lighthouse Instruments, Charlottesville, VA, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: kvictor@lighthouseinstruments.com
Lauren Levac
Lighthouse Instruments, Charlottesville, VA, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michael Timmins
Lighthouse Instruments, Charlottesville, VA, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
James Veale
Lighthouse Instruments, Charlottesville, VA, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

USP <1207.1> Section 3.5 states that “A deterministic leak test method having the ability to detect leaks at the product's maximum allowable leakage limit is preferred when establishing the inherent integrity of a container-closure system.” Ideally, container closure integrity of parenteral packaging would be evaluated by measuring a physical property that is sensitive to the presence of any package defect that breaches package integrity by increasing its leakage above its maximum allowable leakage limit. The primary goals of the work presented herein were to demonstrate the viability of the nondestructive, deterministic method known as laser-based gas headspace analysis for evaluating container closure integrity and to provide a physical model for predicting leak rates for a variety of container volumes, headspace conditions, and defect sizes. The results demonstrate that laser-based headspace analysis provides sensitive, accurate, and reproducible measurements of the gas ingress into glass vial-stopper package assemblies that are under either diffusive or effusive leak conditions. Two different types of positive controls were examined. First, laser-drilled micro-holes in thin metal disks that were crimped on top of 15R glass vials served as positive controls with a well-characterized defect geometry. For these, a strong correlation was observed between the measured ingress parameter and the size of the defect for both diffusive and effusive conditions. Second, laser-drilled holes in the wall of glass vials served as controls that more closely simulate real-world defects. Due to their complex defect geometries, their diffusive and effusive ingress parameters did not necessarily correlate; this is an important observation that has significant implications for standardizing the characterization of container defects. Regardless, laser-based headspace analysis could readily differentiate positive and negative controls for all leak conditions, and the results provide a guide for method development of container closure integrity tests.

LAY ABSTRACT: The new USP 39 <1207>, “Package Integrity Evaluation—Sterile Products”, states in section 3.4.1: “tracer gas tests performed using … laser-based gas headspace analysis [have] been shown to be sensitive enough to quantitatively analyze leakage through the smallest leak paths found to pose the smallest chance of liquid leakage or microbial ingress in rigid packaging.” In addition, USP <1207> also states that “for such methods, the limit of detection can be mathematically predicted on the basis of gas flow kinetics.” Using the above statements as a foundation, this paper presents a theoretical basis for predicting the gas ingress through well-defined defects in product vials sealed under a variety of headspace conditions. These calculated predictions were experimentally validated by comparing them to measurements of changes in the headspace oxygen content or total pressure for several different positive controls using laser-based headspace analysis. The results demonstrated that laser-based headspace analysis can, by readily differentiating between negative controls and positive controls with a range of defect sizes on the micron scale, be used to assess container closure integrity. The work also demontrated that caution must be used when attempting to correlate a leak rate to an idealized defect-size parameter.

  • Container closure integrity
  • USP 39 Chapter <1207>
  • USP 1207
  • Sterility
  • Gas leak rate
  • Gas ingress
  • Headspace analysis
  • Frequency modulation spectroscopy
  • © PDA, Inc. 2017
View Full Text

PDA members receive access to all articles published in the current year and previous volume year. Institutional subscribers received access to all content. Log in below to receive access to this article if you are either of these.  

If you are neither or you are a PDA member trying to access an article outside of your membership license, then you must purchase access to this article (below). If you do not have a username or password for JPST, you will be required to create an account prior to purchasing. 

Full issue PDFs are for PDA members only.

Note to pda.org users

The PDA and PDA bookstore websites (www.pda.org and www.pda.org/bookstore) are separate websites from the PDA JPST website. When you first join PDA, your initial UserID and Password are sent to HighWirePress to create your PDA JPST account. Subsequent UserrID and Password changes required at the PDA websites will not pass on to PDA JPST and vice versa. If you forget your PDA JPST UserID and/or Password, you can request help to retrieve UserID and reset Password below.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Log in through your institution

You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your library if you do not have a username and password.
If your organization uses OpenAthens, you can log in using your OpenAthens username and password. To check if your institution is supported, please see this list. Contact your library for more details.

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.

patientACCESS

patientACCESS - Patients desiring access to articles

Full issue PDFs are for PDA members only. You can join PDA at www.pda.org. 

PreviousNext
Back to top

In This Issue

PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology: 71 (6)
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
Vol. 71, Issue 6
November/December 2017
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by Author
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Email Article
Citation Tools
Share
Method Development for Container Closure Integrity Evaluation via Headspace Gas Ingress by Using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy
Ken G. Victor, Lauren Levac, Michael Timmins, James Veale
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Nov 2017, 71 (6) 429-453; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2017.007518
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Materials and Methods
    • Theoretical Background
    • Results and Discussion
    • Discussion
    • Conclusions
    • Conflict of Interest Declaration
    • Acknowledgments
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Comparing Container Closure Integrity Test Methods--Performance of Headspace Carbon Dioxide Analysis versus Helium Leakage Using Positive Controls
  • A Container Closure Integrity Test Method for Vials Stored at Cryogenic Conditions Using Headspace Oxygen Analysis
  • Assessment of Functional and Physical Performances of Pre-filled Syringes in Deep Cold Storage Conditions
  • Container Closure Integrity Test Method Development on Vials Stored at -80{degrees}C Using Headspace Carbon Dioxide Analysis
  • A Multicompany Survey Study for Helium Leak Container Closure Integrity Test
  • A New Integrated Modeling Approach with Case Studies for Gas Transmission of Container Closure Headspace
  • Container Closure Integrity Test Using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy Headspace Analysis with Carbon Dioxide as a Tracer Gas
  • Comparing Physical Container Closure Integrity Test Methods and Artificial Leak Methodologies
  • Container Closure Integrity Testing--Method Development for Freeze-Dried Products Using Laser-Based Headspace Oxygen Analysis
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of Microorganism Profile Identified in Bioburden Analysis in a Biopharmaceutical Facility in Brazil: Criteria for Classification and Management of Results
  • Evaluation of Extreme Depyrogenation Conditions on the Surface Hydrolytic Resistance of Glass Containers for Pharmaceutical Use
  • A Holistic Approach for Filling Volume Variability Evaluation and Control with Statistical Tool
Show more Research

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • Container closure integrity
  • USP 39 Chapter <1207>
  • USP 1207
  • sterility
  • gas leak rate
  • Gas ingress
  • headspace analysis
  • Frequency modulation spectroscopy

Readers

  • About
  • Table of Content Alerts/Other Alerts
  • Subscriptions
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Editors

Author/Reviewer Information

  • Author Resources
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Reviewers
  • Contact Editors

Parenteral Drug Association, Inc.

  • About
  • Advertising/Sponsorships
  • Events
  • PDA Bookstore
  • Press Releases

© 2025 PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Print ISSN: 1079-7440  Digital ISSN: 1948-2124

Powered by HighWire
Alerts for this Article
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email this Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Method Development for Container Closure Integrity Evaluation via Headspace Gas Ingress by Using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy
(Your Name) has sent you a message from PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
4 + 5 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Method Development for Container Closure Integrity Evaluation via Headspace Gas Ingress by Using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy
Ken G. Victor, Lauren Levac, Michael Timmins, James Veale
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Nov 2017, 71 (6) 429-453; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2017.007518

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.