Bio-Pharma Color Measurement Solutions

What Is Biopharma Color Measurement?

In the biopharmaceutical industry, color is critical. The color of drug products and drug substances — including solution and powder active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), biologics, vaccines, and other injectables—is used as an indicator of product degradation, product stability, and overall product quality and efficacy. Analytical pharma color measurement can be used in new drug application submissions, adherence to company manufacturing standards, and as part of a brand's identity.

For example, consider a powder blended together with other materials to create ingestable tablets. Spectrophotometers and Colorimeters analyze the powder to ensure that the correct amount of API exists within the sample for safety and regulation. After a standard is established for the ratio of API to additives, this color measurement is used from batch to batch to get the same results each time.

Spectrophotometer or Colorimeter analysis is ideal for pharmaceutical production because experts can analyze materials on the production line without damaging or changing the samples. Once the powder is pressed into a tablet, the spectrophotometer/colorimeter can use specific angles and geometrical features to gather more information about the product. One product sample can be tested multiple times, which reduces the resources used while providing more accurate results.

The human eye can not always detect the presence or saturation of API, so having a color spectrophotometer/colorimeter is crucial for consistent detection and accurate drug creation. Pharmaceutical industries can save both time and money by using a quality spectrophotometer/colorimeter for their process. HunterLab has many accurate spectrophotometers that work with biopharma samples.

More About the UltraScan VIS

Our UltraScan VIS is a spectrophotometer/colorimeter that provides an effective analytical method to qualify the color of large and small molecule liquids, which can be validated. The methods are compliant with EP 2.2.2 Color and Opalescence, USP 1061 Color and USP 631, as well as International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and ASTM standards. The UltraScan VIS system can also measure pharmaceutical powders, tablets, and capsules.

The EasyMatch QC-ER software that meets FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for system access, electronic recordkeeping, and data integrity compliance, plus audit trails, is also available with the UltraScan VIS. A complete Validation and Compliance Notebook for documentation and traceability of Installation, Operational, and Performance Qualification Procedures is also included.

The UltraScan VIS is also built for speed, delivering results in as few as two seconds. It is a biopharma color measurement tool option that will save you time and money with fast, accurate results.

Some of the top features of our UltraScan VIS include:

Provides transmittance, haze, and reflectance measurements
Large transmission compartment open on three sides
Highly effective quality control software
Automated UV control and calibration
Two reflectance measurement areas
Wavelength range of 360 nm to 780 nm
10 nm reporting interval and optical resolution
Excellent inter-instrument agreement

The UltraScan VIS offers long-term durability, so you can trust that measurement differences are accurate indicators of color change and not a result of instrument variability.

More About the Aeros

The Aeros is a dual-beam, noncontact reflectance spectrophotometer/colorimeter that offers a hands-free color analysis method. With one touch, you get a 27.5 square inch sample measurement of any size sample. The Aeros measures the largest sample area of any pharmaceutical color measurement instrument for the most accurate readings.

The EZ View software gives operators a user-oriented experience with an industrial touch screen and modern interface. Operators gain access to a complete color overview, including the color and spectral data tables and the spectral, trend, and color plots. The spectrophotometer/colorimeter uses sealed optics with a 256-element diode array and high-resolution concave holographic grating for premium imagery and results.

The Aeros is the industry's largest rotating platform that delivers accurate results for challenging samples within five seconds. The automatic adjustment sensor reads the sample at the best height, so even the most textured samples are accounted for automatically. Operators save time on setup, operation and cleanup, while the spectrophotometer or colorimeter gathers consistent batch results and checks for appropriate API.

Highlighted features of the Aeros include:

A touch screen display with typing and swiping functions
Food and chemical safe tools
Built-in USB, Wi-Fi, and email functions for easy sharing
8 GB of storage to hold your records
An auto-height sensor that adjusts automatically
Selectable measurement durations — 5, 10, 15, or 30 seconds
A full-spectrum LED light source

The Aeros includes multiple tray sizes and works best with textured, non-uniform samples. Save time on setup and cleanup with a hands-free experience.

Measure the Color of Biopharma With Tools From HunterLab

HunterLab has over 70 years of color measuring experience. All biopharmaceutical laboratories require accurate color scanning, and our biopharma color measurement solutions create accurate readings quickly. We design every product to work with your samples, and we account for complex items as well.

Our staff is knowledgeable in color testing and analysis. For more information or to request a quote for the UltraScan VIS, the Aeros, or any of our other color measurement products, complete our online contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.