Tuesday, 24 December 2013

practical 6: experiment 3 Uniformity of weight of tablets and capsules

Title
Uniformity of weight of tablets and capsule

Objective
Determine whether the uniformity of weight of tablets and capsules studied comply with the standard of British Pharmacopoeia or not.

Introduction
            Uniformity of weight of tablets and capsules is an important quality assessment to ensure that each of the tablet and capsule produced meets the requirement of pharmacopoeia standard and also manufacturing standard. Uniformity of weight test is not applicable to tablets and capsules required to comply with the test for uniformity of content. Uniformity of tablets and capsules ensure that patient will get accurate dose of drug in tablet or capsule form to prevent the toxic effect or getting no therapeutic effect. Therefore, uniformity test of weigh of tablets and capsules is carried out in manufacturing process to make sure those produced tablets and capsules fit the requirements.

Apparatus     
Weighing balance, weighing boat

Material        
20 Tablets and 20 capsules

Procedures

Tablets
1)      20 tablets previously selected at random were weighed. The average weight was determined.
2)      The tablets were weighed individually and for each tablet, the percentage deviation of its weight from the average weight was determined.

3)      The deviation of individual weight from the average should not exceed the limits given below:

Average weight of tablet
Deviation (%)
Number of tablets
Less than 80 mg
±10.0
±20.0
Minimum 18
Maximum 2
80-250 mg
±7.5
±15.0
Minimum 18
Maximum 2
More than 250 mg
±5.0
±10.0
Minimum 18
Maximum 2
Capsules
1)      20 capsules were selected at random.
2)      One capsule was weighed. The capsule was opened and the contents were removed as completely as possible. The emptied shells were then weighed. The net weight of its content was determined by subtracting the weight of the shells from the weight of the intact capsule.
3)      The procedure was repeated with other 19 capsules.
4)      The average net weight was determined from the sum of the individual net weights.
5)      The percentage deviation from the average net weight for each capsule was determined. The deviation of individual net weight should not exceed the limits given below:

Average net weight of capsule
Deviation (%)
Number of capsules
Less than 300 mg
±10.0
±20.0
Minimum 18
Maximum 2
300 mg or more
±7.5
±15.0
Minimum 18
Maximum 2

Results and Calculations
Paralgin tablets:

Tablet
Individual weight (g)
Difference between individual weight and average weight (g)
% of deviation
1
0.6376
0.0101
1.48
2
0.7115
0.0278
4.07
3
0.6921
0.0084
1.23
4
0.7057
0.0220
3.22
5
0.7053
0.0216
3.16
6
0.7163
0.0326
4.77
7
0.6636
0.0201
2.94
8
0.6701
0.0136
1.99
9
0.6811
0.0026
0.38
10
0.6810
0.0027
0.39
11
0.6706
0.0131
1.92
12
0.6900
0.0063
0.92
13
0.6745
0.0092
1.35
14
0.6594
0.0243
3.55
15
0.7102
0.0265
3.88
16
0.6992
0.0155
2.27
17
0.7147
0.0310
4.53
18
0.7021
0.0185
2.71
19
0.6583
0.0254
3.72
20
0.6558
0.0279
4.08
i.                    Average weight =   13.6736g  =  0.68368g
                                      20
ii.                  Since the average weight  is 683.68mg which is more than 250mg, so the deviation are ±5% and ±10% ,
a.       % deviation ±5%    =  95% ≤ X ≤ 105%
                   = 649.50 mg ≤ X ≤ 717.86 mg
b.      % deviation ±10%  =  90% ≤ X ≤ 110%
     = 615.31 mg ≤ X ≤ 752.05 mg
iii.                No tablets deviate from the weight so this product passed the uniformity of weight test.


Mefenamic Acid Capsules:

Capsules
Individual weight (g)
Weight of the emptied shells (g)
Net weight of the contents (g)
Difference between individual weight and average weight (g)
% of deviation
1
0.4608
0.0766
0.3842
0.0031
0.80
2
0.4547
0.0733
0.3814
0.0059
1.52
3
0.4528
0.0704
0.3824
0.0049
1.27
4
0.4752
0.0786
0.3966
0.0093
2.40
5
0.4675
0.0710
0.3965
0.0092
2.38
6
0.4610
0.0782
0.3828
0.0045
1.16
7
0.4567
0.0751
0.3816
0.0057
1.47
8
0.4578
0.0732
0.3846
0.0027
0.70
9
0.4690
0.0739
0.3951
0.0078
2.01
10
0.4706
0.0793
0.3913
0.0040
1.03
11
0.4684
0.0756
0.3928
0.0055
1.42
12
0.4094
0.0718
0.3376
0.0497
12.83
13
0.4709
0.0752
0.3957
0.0084
2.17
14
0.4728
0.0826
0.3902
0.0029
0.75
15
0.4680
0.0728
0.3952
0.0079
2.04
16
0.4756
0.0740
0.4016
0.0143
3.70
17
0.4662
0.0716
0.3946
0.0073
1.89
18
0.4620
0.0749
0.3871
0.0002
0.05
19
0.4492
0.0695
0.3797
0.0076
1.96
20
0.4682
0.0732
0.3950
0.0077
1.99

i.                    Average net weight of content = 7.7460 g  =  0.3873 g
                                                              20
ii.                  Since the average weight  is 387.30 mg which is more than 300mg, so the deviation are ±7.5% and ±15% ,
a.       % deviation ±7.5%    =  92.5% ≤ X ≤ 107.5%
                   = 358.25 mg ≤ X ≤ 416.35 mg
b.      % deviation ±15%  =  85% ≤ X ≤ 115%
     = 329.21 mg ≤ X ≤ 445.40mg
iii.                Only one tablet deviates from the weight so this batch of products still considers to pass the uniformity of weight test.



Discussion
          According to the results obtained, the average weight of the tablet Paralgin tablets is  0.68368 g (683.68 mg) which means the range of more than 250 mg is the suitable range chosen from the table of the deviation limits. From the data obtained, it is found that all tablets follow the limits. This shows that almost all tablets tested in this experiment are uniform in the aspect of weight.

 According to the results obtained, the average weight of the capsules is 0.3873 g ( 387.3 mg) which means the range of 300 mg and more is the suitable range chosen from the table of the deviation limits. From the data obtained, it is found that only one capsule has deviation from the weight. This shows that almost all capsules tested in this experiment are uniform in the aspect of weight.

Furthermore, errors might also due to the air flow or wind around the weighing balance to influence the reading of weighing balance. All these errors will lead to inaccuracies of measurement of weight.

The lid of weighing balance should be closed to minimize the error occurred.


Conclusion
The uniformity of weight of tablets and capsules test is useful in quality control during the production of tablets and capsules. In this experiment, it is found that all tablets and capsules used are uniform.

 References
Florence E. Eichie, Ikhuoria M. Arhewoh and Oliver C. Ezeobi, 13 August 2009. In- vitro evaluation of the pharmaceutical quality of some ibuprofen tablets dispensed in Nigeria.
African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 3 (10).

Questions:


1    3. Give reasons for the non-compliance to test for uniformity of weight.

The reasons included poor in-process control during manufacturing of tablet and capsule as well as inaccurate weighing and mixing during preparation. During manufacturing, granules may fed unevenly into the die or/ and lower punch moves irregularly which cause variation in capacity of die space, resulting in different weight of tablets or capsules.

4.      Why does dissolution test suitable to be used for batch to batch quality control?

Dissolution test is used to assess the in vivo performance of products. Biopharmaceutical aspects are as important for stability concerns as they are for batch release after production, in vitro dissolution being of high relevance in quality control and quality assurance. In vitro dissolution data will be of great importance when assessing changes in production site, manufacturing process or formulation and assist in decisions concerning the need for bioavailability studies. Thus, dissolution test is suitable to be used for batch to batch quality control. 

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