Analysis of recent pharmaceutical regulatory documents on analytical method validation

All analysts face the same situations as method validation is the process of proving that an analytical method is acceptable for its intended purpose. In order to resolve this problem, the analyst refers to regulatory or guidance documents, and therefore the validity of the analytical methods is dependent on the guidance, terminology and methodology, proposed in these documents. It is therefore of prime importance to have clear definitions of the different validation criteria used to assess this validity. It is also necessary to have methodologies in accordance with these definitions and consequently to use statistical methods which are relevant with these definitions, the objective of the validation and the objective of the analytical method. The main purpose of this paper is to outline the inconsistencies between some definitions of the criteria and the experimental procedures proposed to evaluate those criteria in recent documents dedicated to the validation of analytical methods in the pharmaceutical field, together with the risks and problems when trying to cope with contradictory, and sometimes scientifically irrelevant, requirements and definitions.     

Improvement of Analytical Measurements within the BCR-Programme: Single and Sequential Extraction Procedures Applied to Soil and Sediment Analysis

Abstract

The determination of extractable trace metal contents in soil and sediment, using respectively single and sequential extraction procedures, is currently performed in many laboratories to assess the bioavailable metal fraction (and related phyto-toxic effects) and the accessability to the environment (e.g. contamination of ground waters).

Owing to the need for validation of the extraction schemes used and of the analytical techniques, the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) decided to organize a project for the improvement of the quality of determinations of extractable trace metal contents in soil and sediment. The implementation of this project follows a stepwise approach involving feasibility studies, intercomparisons to detect and remove sources of errors in the application of the analytical methods, and the certification of the extractable compounds. This paper describes the organization of the work completed so far (feasibility studies and first intercomparison) and discusses its further development.     

化学分析方法验证和确认的应用研究

分析方法的验证/确认是实验室引进新方法时必做的工作,也是实验室技术工作的重点和难点之一。对实验室采用分析方法的验证和确认工作进行归纳总结,详述了分析方法选择性、测量范围、线性范围、检出限和定量限、精密度、准确度的验证/确认方法及结果判定方式。适用于实验室引进的标准方法(包括标准变更)和非标准方法(实验室设计/制定的方法、超出预定范围使用的标准方法、扩充和修改过的标准方法)的验证和确认。     

Validation of analytical methods involved in dissolution assays: Acceptance limits and decision methodologies

Dissolution tests are key elements to ensure continuing product quality and performance. The ultimate goal of these tests is to assure consistent product quality within a defined set of specification criteria. Validation of an analytical method aimed at assessing the dissolution profile of products or at verifying pharmacopoeias compliance should demonstrate that this analytical method is able to correctly declare two dissolution profiles as similar or drug products as compliant with respect to their specifications. It is essential to ensure that these analytical methods are fit for their purpose. Method validation is aimed at providing this guarantee. However, even in the ICHQ2 guideline there is no information explaining how to decide whether the method under validation is valid for its final purpose or not. Are the entire validation criterion needed to ensure that a Quality Control (QC) analytical method for dissolution test is valid? What acceptance limits should be set on these criteria? How to decide about method's validity? These are the questions that this work aims at answering. Focus is made to comply with the current implementation of the Quality by Design (QbD) principles in the pharmaceutical industry in order to allow to correctly defining the Analytical Target Profile (ATP) of analytical methods involved in dissolution tests. Analytical method validation is then the natural demonstration that the developed methods are fit for their intended purpose and is not any more the inconsiderate checklist validation approach still generally performed to complete the filing required to obtain product marketing authorization.     

Sample Preparation Techniques—An Important Part in Trace Element Analysis for Environmental Research and Monitoring

Abstract

For the determination of minute amounts of elements in environmental samples combined analytical procedures are frequently employed. The combination of suitable sample preparation techniques with adequate detection methods lead to powerful analytical procedures. Decomposition methods are an important part of combined procedures for the determination of trace elements in solid samples. After a short summary of the potential sources for systematic errors two new decomposition methods are described that are suitable for the ashing of organic environmental samples. In one method the organic sample is ashed in a high-frequency excited oxygen plasma. The second method is a high pressure decomposition that permits mineralization of the sample in sealed quartz vessels with nitric acid at temperatures up to 320°C.

For both methods the ratio of sample weight to decomposition reagents is comparatively high. This makes these methods in combination with adequate detection methods suitable for the determination of elements at very low concentrations.

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry combined with adequate preconcentration methods is very well suited for the simultaneous determination of trace elements. Following a critical evaluation of various preconcentration techniques the analytical characteristics of filter paper with immobilized complexing agents are described. Particular emphasis is given to filter papers with dithiocarbamates as chelating group.     

An estimation of the measurement uncertainty for an optical emission spectrometric method

 A validation procedure based on the ISO/IEC 17025 standard was used to demonstrate the long-term stability of a calibration process and to assess the measurement uncertainty of a standard test method for optical emission vacuum spectrometric analysis of carbon and low-alloy steel (ASTM E 415–99a). The validation was used to provide documented evidence that the selected method fulfils the requirements and that the method is ”fit for purpose”. A test for drift was applied to determine statistically whether the analytical results vary systematically with time. The accuracy and traceability of the optimised method were tested by an analysis of closely matched matrix certified reference materials (CRMs). The measurement uncertainty estimations took account of the precision study, the bias and its uncertainty, and the qualification of uncertainties not considered in the overall performance studies. Received: 2 November 2002 Accepted: 2 January 2003 Acknowledgement The author expresses gratitude to Dr. Aleš Fajgelj for helpful discussions during the 3rd Central European Conference on Reference Materials and Measurements. Presented at CERMM-3, Central European Reference Materials and Measurements Conference: The function of reference materials in the measurement process, May 30–June 1, 2002, Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia Correspondence to T. Drglin     

Liquid crystal phases in confined geometries

ABSTRACT

The orientation control of liquid crystal (LC) phases is essential for fundamental studies as well as practical applications. Surface treatment and topographic confinement have emerged as two of the most effective tools to control ordering and orientation of various types of LC phases. This review is intended to give an overview of the LC phases controlled in confined geometries at micro- and nanometre scales, in which the orientation control methods and the effective analytical techniques will be covered. Finally, the review closes with the applications using such confined LC phases.     

Donnan Dialysis Matrix Normalization for Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry

Abstract

Previously reported cathodic stripping methods for the determination of phosphate and arsenate which were based upon reversible oxidation of Fe (II) to sparingly soluble salts at an inert electrode were subject to several interferences and were influenced by the sample matrix. In the present study Donnan dialysis was used to transfer the test ions from the sample into a controlled electrolyte. Subsequently, stripping analysis was performed. The resulting determinations were independent of the matrix of the original sample over a wide variety of conditions. Using lake water and wastewater samples, results were obtained which were statistically equivalent to widely accepted analytical procedures for trace level determinations.     

Validation of a Quantitative Method Determination of Estradiol in Pharmaceutical Products using UV-Vis Molecular Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

This article describes the development and validation of a quantitative analytical method for determination of estradiol in several pharmaceutical products (powder, tablets, cream, solutions for injection) using UV-vis molecular absorption spectrometry. The proposed method is accurate, precise, sensitive, and selective and can be used in quality control laboratories.     

Determination of Candesartan Cilexetil in Tablet Dosage Forms and Dissolution Testing Samples by First Derivative UV Spectrophotometric Method

Abstract

This article describes the development and validation of a first derivative UV quantitative analytical method for determination of candesartan cilexetil in tablet dosage forms. A signal at 270.1 nm of the first derivative spectrum (ID_270.1) was found adequate for quantification. The limit of quantification was 3.06 µg/ml. The linearity between ID_270.1 nm and concentration of candesartan cilexetil in the range of 6.00–32.00 µg/ml presented a correlation coefficient of (r²) = 0.9990. The mean recovery percentage was 100.97 and 99.23% for candesartan cilexetil standard solution and candesartan standard cilexetil solution with excipients, respectively. The intraday and interday accuracy of the assay was 98.60% and 99.10% respectively. The intraday and interday variability was below 2.0%.

The proposed method is accurate, precise, sensitive, and selective and can be used in quality control laboratories for its intended purpose.     

Isolation of Glycolipids from Blood Elements

Abstract

Several chromatographic e.g. HPTLC, HPLC, etc. methods have been published in the literature for the separation, after sufficient pretreatment, of derivatized or non-derivatized glycolipid samples.

Our task is the extraction, isolation and separation of the glycolipids from different blood elements, followed by suitable fractionation methods, giving the lipid classes in sufficient purity and quantity for HPLC, HPTLC and OPTLC measurements and possibly further biochemical use.

We show the differences between the procedures commonly used and that developed in our laboratory.

The advantage of our method, which employs 3 cm long Brownlee Labs HPLC cartridges, is that it can be automated, it gives class fractionation of the lipid samples and as it is hardware compatible with HPLC equipment it can be used directly in a coupled column system for on line separation in the individual class. The development of this column coupling method for the fractionation of a given lipid class from the total lipid extract on an analytical column is under development.     

Statistical Model for Organic Chromatographic Trace Analysis of Complex Samples. A Case Study: Plant Extracts

Abstract

The use of pooled plant extracts is described in the estimation of matrix interference in HPLC (UV and EC) determinations of organic compounds in plant extracts. An extract from freeze dried leaves of 134 different plant species was used for this purpose. It was split in different subgroups with solid extraction clean-up procedures. UV, EC and chromatographic data of the subgroups were used in the calculation of minimum concentrations of organic compounds which are still accurately determinable in plant samples with HPLC methods. The UV and/or EC characteristics of the compound must be known. The contribution of the solid phase extraction procedures and of the analytical system to the selectivity of the method can be estimated. Information is also supplied which allows rapid comparison of the selectivity of the UV and EC (single, or dual parallel) detectors for the determination of a specified compound.     

A Simple,Rapid, and Validated LC Method for the Estimation of Nimesulide in Human Serum and Its Application in Bioavailability Studies

Abstract

A new, simple, and rapid, sensitive reversed phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for the estimation of nimesulide in blood serum using a 60:40 mixture of acetonitrile and orthophosphoric acid (pH 3.0) as the mobile phase at 230 nm. The mobile phase and other chromatographic conditions were optimized to minimize interference from the serum matrix and at the same time provide sufficient sensitivity for the method to be adopted for in vivo studies of oral formulations of nimesulide. Acetonitrile was used to precipitate proteins from serum during sample preparation. Detector response was found to be linear in the region of 100–1000 ng/ml. The detection and quantitation limit, as per the error propagation theory, was found to be 50 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml, respectively. The linear equation obtained by the least square regression method was Area = 37.29 × Conc.(ng/ml)?1699.89 with a retention time of 3.97 ± 0.04 min. The results of the analysis were treated statistically, as per ICH guidelines for validation of analytical procedures, USP-2000. and by recovery studies. An internal standard was not employed in the method, as sample recoveries were in good agreement with their label claims. The results were found to be accurate, reproducible, and free from interference. The developed methods were further used for estimation of nimesulide for oral bioavailability of designed sustained release formulations of nimesulide.     

Simple Rapid Validated RP-LC Method for the Estimation of Flurbiprofen in Rabbit Serum and Aqueous Humor

Abstract

New reversed-phase liquid chromatographic methods, with UV detection, were developed for the quantitative estimation of flurbiprofen in rabbit blood serum and aqueous humor. The mobile phase and other chromatographic conditions were optimized to minimize interference from biological matrix and at the same time provide sufficient sensitivity for the method to be adopted for in vivo studies of ophthalmic formulations of flurbiprofen. Acetonitrile was used to precipitate proteins from serum or aqueous humor during sample preparation. A mobile phase of methanol: acetonitrile: phosphate buffer pH 5.6 (40:20:40) was employed with UV detection at 248 nm for estimation of drug in both the biological matrix. The retention time and asymmetry factor for the proposed method of estimation in serum and aqueous humor was found to be 3.1312±0.0101 min and 1.1310±0.0091 respectively. The linear regression equations obtained by least square regression method, were Area (µV sec) = 52.27 × Conc. (in ng/ml)–1618.70 in serum and Area (µV sec) = 61.79 × Conc. (in ng/ml) ? 783.24 in aqueous humor. The results of analysis were treated statistically, as per ICH guidelines for validation of analytical procedures, USP-2003, and by recovery studies. The results were found to be accurate, reproducible and free from interference. The developed methods were further used for estimation of flurbiprofen in rabbit serum and aqueous humor following single topical administration of in-house aqueous drop and market formulation to rabbit eye.     

Interlaboratory method validation of capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) methodology for analysis of mAbs

Capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) is an analytical method to assess the purity of proteins, commonly applied to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the biopharmaceutical industry. To address the need to standardize the CE-SDS method in the pharmaceutical industry and to enhance the confidence in method transfer between laboratories operating different commercial capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument platforms, an interlaboratory CE-SDS method validation was organized involving 13 laboratories in 13 companies on four different types of commercial capillary electrophoresis instruments. In the validation, a commercial mAb therapeutic was used as the sample. The validation process followed the analytical guidelines set by the ICH guidelines (International Conference for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use). The method's precision, accuracy, linearity and range, and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were validated in the study. Variations of all the parameters validated in the study passed the pre-set criteria defined at the beginning of the study. The definition was based on previously published works and the intended application purpose of the CE-SDS method for mAbs. The study proved that the CE-SDS method fits its intended application purpose as a size impurity assay and size heterogeneity characterization assay for mAb therapeutic products. This study is the first time a CE-SDS method is validated by multiple laboratories using different commercial CE instrument platforms and on a commercial mAb therapeutic. Its results will enhance the confidence of the biopharmaceutical industry to develop CE-SDS methods and transfer CE-SDS methods between different laboratories.     

Validation and qualification: the fitness for purpose of mass spectrometry-based analytical methods and analytical systems

The context of validation for mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods is critically analysed. The focus is on the fitness for purpose depending on the task of the method. Information is given on commonly accepted procedures for the implementation and acceptance of analytical methods as ‘confirmatory methods’ according to EU criteria, and strategies for measurement. Attention is paid to the problem of matrix effects in the case of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based procedures, since according to recent guidelines for bioanalytical method validations, there is a need to evaluate matrix effects during development and validation of LC-MS methods “to ensure that precision, selectivity and sensitivity will not be compromised”. Beneficial aspects of the qualification process to ensure the suitability of the MS analytical system are also evaluated and discussed.     

Ammonium Determination in Water Samples by Using Opa-Nac Reagent: A Comparative Study with Nessler and Ammonium Selective Electrode Methods

A selective and sensitive method based on the ammonium derivatisation with o -phthaldialdehyde (OPA) and N -acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been developed for ammonium determination in real water samples. The proposed procedure has been compared with ammonium reference methods such as Nessler reagent method and ammonium selective electrode. All procedures have been chemometrically tested and compared in terms of the main analytical properties. These procedures have been used to determine ammonium in unknown water samples. The OPA-NAC reagent method does not present any systematic error (proportional or constant), while Nessler reagent presents both of them for some samples assayed. The ammonium selective electrode is free of corrigible systematic errors, however presents amine interference. The OPA-NAC ammonium method is able to achieve a detection limit (LOD) of 0.07 mg/L in the sample, with a linear dynamic range up to 1.4 mg/L of ammonium.     

Simple Analytical Method for the Determination of Paclitaxel (Taxol ® ) Levels in Human Plasma

Paclitaxel has been widely used for tumor chemotherapy in recent years and it would be useful to assess occupational exposure to the drug, if only to confirm that the procedures and measures for prevention and protection applied in health care structures are effective against this kind of risk. This study is to establish a simple, robust analytical method for routine use in biological monitoring of health workers exposed to taxanes, and extendable to patients receiving these drugs. HPLC equipped with a diode array detector was used. The assay was validated. Intra- and inter-day accuracy and reproducibility were good. Recovery of paclitaxel spiked in drug-free plasma was higher than 87% with SPE using extract-clean normal phase cyanopropyl silica cartridges for plasma clean-up. The calibration curve was linear in the range 10–500 ng mL⁻¹. The method was applied to plasma samples of nurses occupationally exposed to paclitaxel. The experimental analytical method performed well, detecting paclitaxel in plasma at a concentrations down to 10 ng mL⁻¹. This straightforward method for analytical determination of paclitaxel in human plasma is rapid and can measure up to 36 plasma samples per day. It uses more economical equipment than other methods proposed in the literature and its validation parameters are highly satisfactory.

     

Evaluation Of Some Methods For 17- Ketosteroids In Urine

Abstract

Three procedure for 17-ketosteroids are compared: The method of Callow et al., the method of Drekter et al. and the method of Corker et al. Good correlation has been found between results obtained by the methods of Callow and Corker. Analyses of single analytical steps showed that Drekter's method gives in some cases too high results because non-specific chromogens are included when readings are taken only at 520 nm. Of these three procedures that of Corker et al. is proposed as the method of choice.