Extractables and leachables studies enable manufacturers to identify, quantify, and evaluate the risk of leachable impurities migrating into a drug solution from container closure systems, processing equipment, or packaging. This makes the successful examination of extractable and leachable substances extremely important for both the protection of patients and adherence to regulatory expectations.
Smithers offers chemical analysis laboratories in both the UK and the US, offering a comprehensive range of extractables and leachables testing techniques. We also offer primary pack testing, distribution studies, bioanalytical services, and biocompatibility extractables testing.
Smithers provides extractables and leachables testing on a wide range of closure and drug delivery systems, including:
Our experts conduct extractables and leachables assessments in accordance to regional guidance and regulatory specifications, including United States Pharmacopeia (USP), FDA, MHRA, and EMA requirements. We also undertake extractables and leachables studies to PQRI recommendations and BPOG guidelines.
We can provide an extractables and leachables analysis to demonstrate product and material compliance with:
We will work with you to ensure that your regulatory requirements are fulfilled by the testing program.
Numerous analytical techniques are used for extractables and leachables studies because no single analytical technique can detect all of the potential contaminants. The techniques used typically include:
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Our experts will design an extractables and leachables study tailored to your project’s requirements, using the following extractables and leachables framework:
We have an open-door policy, and clients are welcome to visit our site.
Before undertaking an extractables and leachables analysis, our experts will make a comprehensive risk assessment of your product or device. This could include various factors, depending on your product, such as daily dose, administration route, toxicity classification, material contact, dosage form, patient population, duration, and construction materials.
This assessment gives our clients the ultimate assurance that our testing will address the relevant areas of concern for their project, as well as providing the transparency of our rationale and subsequent approach.
The experts at Smithers can help you evaluate recycled or post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials for your medical and pharmaceutical products. Our team has years of experience performing investigative extractables and leachables assessments and evaluations to ensure confidence in your materials and products.
Smithers has a 100-year history of working with rubber and plastics, and over this time, we have developed an in-house GC-MS, LC-MS, and FT-IR library database of thousands of substances to aid in the identification of E&L substances. We are well-placed to assist you in the identification of unknown leachables with our E&L studies.
Our experts can provide consultative support at every stage of the extractables and leachables process, from understanding extractables and leachables regulatory requirements to determining a suitable test strategy and interpreting the results. We will work with you to understand your requirements, address your needs and deliver the required results to support your regulatory submission and protect patients.
As plastics and rubber material experts, we can also offer consultative support to help clients with: