Quality Control of Tablets Lecture 1

Quality control
Quality Control (Q.C.)
:Definition
Quality control is concerned with sampling, specifications

for raw material, and finished product, testing,
documentation, release product, analytical
.methodologies and good laboratory practice
Quality control tests of tablets
:Specifications for tablets
The tablet should include the correct dose of the drug (Weight. 1
.uniformity and content uniformity test)
The drug should be released from the tablet in a controlled and. 2

.reproducible way (Dissolution test)
The tablet should show sufficient mechanical strength to withstand. 3

fracture and erosion during manufacturing and handling (Hardness and
.friability test)
The appearance of the tablet should be elegant and its weight, size and . 4
appearance should be consistent (Visual observation, weight variation,
.thickness and diameter of the tablet)
.The tablet should be packed in a safe manner. 5
Official Quality control tests for tablets (Compendial tests)
British Pharmacopoeia (B.P.) & US Pharmacopoeia (USP)
Uniformity of content of active ingredient (Uniformity of weight- 1

)Content uniformity&
.Disintegration test- 2
.Dissolution test- 3
.Friability test- 4
Non-Compandial tests
There are many tests that frequently applied to tablets for which
there are non-pharmacopoeial requirements but will form a part
.of manufacture's owner product specifications
.Tablet thickness- 1
.Tablet hardness- 2
I. Official standards (Q. C. tests) for tablets
(Compendial tests)
:Uniformity of active ingredient
.To ensure a constant dose of drug between individual tablets
Traditionally, dose variation between tablets is tested in two separate
;tests
Weight uniformity- 1
Content uniformity- 2
If the drug forms greater part of the tablet ( more than 25 mg and
25%), any variation in the tablet weight obviously indicates a variation
in the active ingredient. (Weight uniformity test)
If the drug is potent (USP specifies less than < 25 mg of the active
ingredient, or comprising <25%byweightofunit), the excipients
form the greater part of the tablet weight and the correlation between
the tablet weight and amount of the active ingredient can be poor, in this
.case another test (Content uniformity) must be performed
Weight uniformity (weight variation). 1
- Weigh 20 tablets individually (i.e. determine the weight of each
tablet alone; X1, X2, X3 X20)
- Calculate the average weight of tablets ( = Total weight of tablets )
Number of tablets
Average weight of tablets (X) = (X1+X2 +X3++ X20)/20
Pharmaceutical form Average tablet Percentage deviation
weight (X)
Tablets mg or less 80 10
mg 250 - > 80< 7.5
mg or more 250 5
Weight variation testing
Causes of weight variation
The size & distribution of the granules being compressed (presence of. 1
too large or too fine granules).
2. Poor flow and high speed turret speed (incomplete filling of die),.
3. Poor mixing. (Sometimes the lubricants & glidants have not been
well distributed).
4. When lower punches are of unequal lengths, the fill of each die varies
because the fill is volumetric
5. Demixing or segregation of powder constituents of different

Content uniformity. 2
USP defines content uniformity test for tablets containing less than < 25
mg or less than < 25% drug substance in case of coated or uncoated
.tablets
BP procedure
.Determining the amount of drug in a sample of tablets (10 )
.The average drug content is calculated
The content of the individual tablets should fall within specified limits
in terms of % deviation from the LC (85 115%). If not comply, repeat
.using 20 more tablets. No one should be 75 125% deviation
If content uniformity test is required, the weight uniformity test is not

.required
Disintegration
All tablets must pass a test for disintegration except Chewable tablets
.and some Extended release tablets
:The test is carried out by

Agitating a given number of tablets in an aqueous medium (Water or
simulated gastric/ intestinal fluid ) at a defined temperature (37 2 C)
. & the time to reach the end-point of the test is recorded
The disintegration apparatus
A cylindrical disk of transparent plastic is also

.used if specified in monograph
Six tubes opened at the upper end and closed by a screen at the lower
The end point of the test (i.e. complete disintegration) is achieved when
no tablet fragments remain on the screen (fragments of coating may
remain).
The preparation complies with the test if the time to reach this
end-point is below given limit; < 30 minutes for uncoated immediate
release tablets. but varying from 2 min for nitroglycerin sublingual
tablets to up to 4 hrs for buccal tablets.
If one or two tablets failed to disintegrate, repeat test on 12 additional

.tablets: at least 16 of the 18 (6 + 12) tested tablets should pass the test
Special cases
Effervescent tablets
Place 1 tablet in a beaker containing 200 ml of water at (15-25C; the
tablet should evolve bubbles and when the evolution of gas around the
tablet stops, the tablet has disintegrated. The same procedures are
performed for other 5 tablets. The tablets comply with the test if each of
.the six tablets used disintegrated within 5 min or as justified
Disintegration beaker Effervescent tablets

Soluble tablets
Soluble tablets disintegrate within 3 min when placed in water at
25C.
Disintegration test for enteric coated tablets:
Enteric coated tablets are similarly tested except that the tablets are
tested first in the simulated gastric fluid (0.1N HCl) for specific time
(2hr in B.P. and 1 hr in USP) for a positive test, after which no signs of
disintegration, cracking or softening must be seen, followed by
immersion in stimulated intestinal fluid (Phosphate buffer pH 6.8) for
the time stated in the individual monograph, during which time the
.tablets disintegrate completely
Enteric coated tablets

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Quality control

Quality Control (Q.C.)

Quality control is concerned with sampling, specifications

The drug should be released from the tablet in a controlled and. 2

The tablet should show sufficient mechanical strength to withstand. 3

Uniformity of content of active ingredient (Uniformity of weight- 1

5. Demixing or segregation of powder constituents of different

If content uniformity test is required, the weight uniformity test is not

:The test is carried out by

A cylindrical disk of transparent plastic is also

If one or two tablets failed to disintegrate, repeat test on 12 additional

Disintegration beaker Effervescent tablets

Disintegration test for enteric coated tablets:

Enteric coated tablets

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