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〈1〉 INJECTIONS AND IMPLANTED DRUG PRODUCTS (PARENTERALS)—

PRODUCT QUALITY TESTS
INTRODUCTION
PRODUCT QUALITY TESTS COMMON TO PARENTERAL DOSAGE FORMS

Universal Tests
Specific Tests

PRODUCT QUALITY TESTS FOR SPECIFIC PARENTERAL DOSAGE FORMS

Solutions
Sterile Powders for Solutions
Suspensions
Liposomes
Sterile Powders for Suspensions
Emulsions
Implants
Drug-Eluting Stents

INTRODUCTION
Parenteral drug products include both injections and implanted drug products that are injected through the skin or other external boundary tissue, or implanted
within the body to allow the direct administration of the active drug substance(s) into blood vessels, organs, tissues, or lesions. Injections may exist as either
immediate- or extended-release dosage forms. Implanted parenteral drug products are long-acting dosage forms that provide continuous release of the active drug
substance(s), often for periods of months to years. For systemic delivery, they may be placed subcutaneously; for local delivery, they may be placed in a speci c
region of the body. Routes of administration for parenteral drug products include intravenous, intraventricular, intra-arterial, intra-articular, subcutaneous,
intramuscular, intrathecal, intracisternal, and intraocular.
Parenteral dosage forms include solutions, suspensions, emulsions, sterile powders for solutions and suspensions (including liposomes), implants (including
microparticles), and products that consist of both a drug and a device such as drug-eluting stents. The de nitions and descriptions of these dosage forms, and brief
information about their composition and manufacturing processes, are found in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms 〈1151〉. [NOTE—All references to chapters above 1000
are for informational purposes only, for use as a helpful resource. These chapters are not mandatory unless explicitly called out for application.]
This chapter is divided into three main sections: (1) universal product quality tests that are applicable to parenteral dosage forms; (2) speci c product quality tests,
which are tests that should be considered in addition to Universal Tests; and (3) product quality tests for speci c dosage forms, which list applicable tests (universal
and speci c) for the speci c dosage form.
This chapter applies, in whole or in part, when referenced in a drug product monograph (see General Notices, 3.10 Applicability of Standards).
The pharmacopeial de nitions for sterile preparations for parenteral use may not apply to some biologics because of their special nature and licensing
requirements (see Biologics 〈1041〉). However, some biological nished drug products containing “Injection” in the monograph title must meet the requirements of
〈1〉 or indicated chapter subparts, where it is speci ed in the monograph.

PRODUCT QUALITY TESTS COMMON TO PARENTERAL DOSAGE FORMS

Universal Tests

Universal tests are listed below and are applicable to parenteral dosage forms.

IDENTIFICATION

Identi cation tests are discussed in General Notices, 5.40 Identi cation should establish the identity of the drug or drugs present in the article and should
discriminate between compounds of closely related structure that are likely to be present..

ASSAY

A speci c and stability-indicating test should be used to determine the strength (content) of the drug product. In cases where the use of a nonspeci c assay is
justi ed, other supporting analytical procedures should be used to achieve overall speci city. A speci c procedure should be used when there is evidence of
excipient interference with the nonspeci c assay.

IMPURITIES

Tests for Impurities are discussed in General Notices, 5.60 Impurities and Foreign Substances. All articles should be tested to ensure that they meet the
requirements.

FOREIGN AND PARTICULATE MATTER

Articles intended for parenteral administration should be prepared in a manner designed to exclude particulate matter as de ned in Subvisible Particulate Matter
in Therapeutic Protein Injections 〈787〉, Particulate Matter in Injections 〈788〉, or Particulate Matter in Ophthalmic Solutions 〈789〉, as well as excluding other foreign
matter as appropriate for the dosage form. Each nal container of all parenteral preparations should be inspected to the extent possible for the presence of
observable foreign and particulate matter (hereafter termed visible particulates) in its contents. The inspection process should be designed and quali ed to ensure
that every lot of all parenteral preparations is essentially free from visible particulates, as de ned in Visible Particulates in Injections 〈790〉. Quali cation of the
inspection process should be performed with reference to particulates in the visible range and those particulates that might emanate from the manufacturing or

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lling process. Every container in which the contents show evidence of visible particulates must be rejected. The inspection for visible particulates may take place
during examination for other defects such as cracked or defective containers or seals, or when characterizing the appearance of a lyophilized product.
When the nature of the contents or the container–closure system permits only limited inspection of the total contents, the 100% inspection of a lot should be
supplemented with the inspection of constituted (e.g., dried) or withdrawn (e.g., from a dark amber container) contents of a sample of containers from the lot.
Large-volume injections for single-dose infusion, small-volume injections, and pharmacy bulk packages (PBPs) are subject to the light obscuration or
microscopic procedures and limits for subvisible particulate matter set forth in 〈788〉, unless otherwise speci ed in the chapter or in the individual monograph. An
article packaged as both a large-volume and a small-volume injection meets the requirements set forth for small-volume injections where the container is labeled
as containing 100 mL or less. It meets the requirements set forth for large-volume injections for single-dose infusion where the container is labeled as containing
more than 100 mL.

STERILITY

The sterility of all drug products intended for parenteral administration should be con rmed by the use of methods described in Sterility Tests 〈71〉 or by an
approved alternative method.

BACTERIAL ENDOTOXINS

All articles intended for parenteral administration should be prepared in a manner designed to limit bacterial endotoxins as de ned in Bacterial Endotoxins Test
〈85〉 or Pyrogen Test 〈151〉.

CONTAINER CONTENT

Container contents should be determined when appropriate (see Container Content for Injections 〈697〉).

PACKAGING SYSTEMS

The packaging system should not interact physically or chemically with the preparation to alter its strength, quality, or purity beyond the o cial or established
requirements. The packaging system should meet the requirements in Elastomeric Closures for Injections 〈381〉, Packaging and Storage Requirements 〈659〉,
Containers—Glass 〈660〉, Plastic Packaging Systems and their Materials of Construction 〈661〉, Plastic Materials of Construction 〈661.1〉, and Plastic Packaging
Systems for Pharmaceutical Use 〈661.2〉. Further information regarding packaging systems testing may be found in Assessment of Extractables Associated with
Pharmaceutical Packaging/Delivery Systems 〈1663〉 and Assessment of Drug Product Leachables Associated with Pharmaceutical Packaging/Delivery Systems
〈1664〉.

CONTAINER–CLOSURE INTEGRITY

The packaging system should be closed or sealed in such a manner as to prevent contamination or loss of contents. Validation of container integrity must
demonstrate no penetration of microbial contamination or gain or loss of any chemical or physical parameter deemed necessary to protect the product (see
Package Integrity Evaluation—Sterile Products 〈1207〉, Package Integrity Testing in the Product Life Cycle—Test Method Selection and Validation 〈1207.1〉, Package
Integrity Leak Test Technologies 〈1207.2〉, and Package Seal Quality Test Technologies 〈1207.3〉).

LABELING

All articles intended for parenteral administration should meet the labeling requirements de ned in Labeling 〈7〉.

Change to read:
Speci c Tests

In addition to the Universal Tests listed above, the following speci c tests may be necessary depending on the dosage form.

UNIFORMITY OF DOSAGE UNITS

This test is applicable for parenteral drug products and dosage forms packaged in single-unit containers. It includes both the mass of the dosage form and the
content of the active substance in the dosage form (see Uniformity of Dosage Units 〈905〉).

VEHICLES AND ADDED SUBSTANCES

There are other vehicles, both aqueous and nonaqueous, beyond those that are discussed below. All vehicles should be suitable for their intended use and not
impact drug product quality.
Aqueous vehicles: Aqueous vehicles must meet the requirements of 〈151〉 or 〈85〉, whichever is speci ed in the monograph. Water for injection is generally used as
the vehicle. Sodium chloride or dextrose may be added to render the resulting solution isotonic, and sodium chloride injection or Ringer's injection may be used in
whole or in part instead of water for injection.
Nonaqueous vehicles: Fixed oils are classi ed under Nonaqueous vehicles. Fixed oils used as vehicles are of vegetable origin and are odorless. They meet the
requirements in the test for Solid Para n in the Mineral Oil monograph with the cooling bath maintained at 10°.
Nonaqueous vehicles should also meet the requirements of the following tests:
Fats and Fixed Oils 〈401〉, Saponi cation Value: Between 185 and 200
Fats and Fixed Oils 〈401〉, Iodine Value: Between 79 and 141
Fats and Fixed Oils 〈401〉, Unsaponi able Matter: NMT 1.5%
Fats and Fixed Oils 〈401〉, Acid Value: NMT 0.2
Fats and Fixed Oils 〈401〉, Peroxide Value: NMT 5.0
Water Determination 〈921〉, Method Ic: NMT 0.1%
Limit of Copper, Iron, Lead, and Nickel: [NOTE—The test for nickel is not required if the oil has not been subjected to hydrogenation, or a nickel catalyst has not
been used in processing.] Proceed as directed in Fats and Fixed Oils 〈401〉, Trace Metals or Elemental Impurities—Procedures 〈233〉. Meet the requirements in
Elemental Impurities—Limits 〈232〉.
Synthetic mono- or diglycerides of fatty acids may be used provided they are liquid and remain clear when cooled to 10° and have a Iodine Value of NMT 140.
Added substances: Suitable substances may be added to preparations in order to increase stability or usefulness unless they are proscribed in the monograph. No
coloring agent may be added to a preparation solely for the purpose of coloring the nished preparation (see General Notices, 5.20 Added Substances and
Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing 〈51〉).
Observe special care in the choice and use of added substances in preparations with volumes that exceed 5 mL. The following limits prevail unless otherwise
directed:
Mercury and cationic surface-active agents: NMT 0.01%
Chlorobutanol, cresol, phenol, and similar substances: NMT 0.5%
Sulfur dioxide or an equivalent amount of sul te, bisul te, or metabisul te of potassium or sodium: NMT 0.2%

ANTIMICROBIAL PRESERVATIVES

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Antimicrobial agents must be added to preparations intended for injection that are packaged in multiple-dose containers unless one of the following conditions
prevails: (1) there are different directions in the individual monograph; (2) the substance contains a radionuclide with a physical half-life of less than 24 h; or (3) the
active ingredients are themselves antimicrobial. Substances must meet the requirements of 〈51〉 and Antimicrobial Agents—Content 〈341〉.

WATER CONTENT

The water content of freeze-dried (lyophilized) products should be determined when appropriate (see 〈921〉).

ALUMINUM CONTENT

See ▲Labeling 〈7〉, Aluminum in Large-Volume Injections (LVIs), Small-Volume Injections (SVIs), and Pharmacy Bulk Packages (PBPs) Used in Parenteral Nutrition
(PN) Therapy▲ (CN 1-May-2019) for information related to speci c labeling requirements associated with aluminum content.

COMPLETENESS AND CLARITY OF SOLUTIONS

The following tests are performed to demonstrate suitability of constituted solutions prepared before administration. Constitute the solution as directed in the
labeling supplied by the manufacturer:
The solid dissolves completely, leaving no undissolved matter.
The constituted solution is not signi cantly less clear than an equal volume of the diluent or of puri ed water contained in a similar vessel and examined
similarly. Protein solutions may exhibit an inherent opalescence.
The constituted solution is free from particulate matter that can be observed on visual inspection (see 〈790〉).

PRODUCT QUALITY TESTS FOR SPECIFIC PARENTERAL DOSAGE FORMS

Product quality tests for the speci c dosage forms are listed below. Speci c chapter(s) referenced for the test can be found in the Universal Tests and Speci c
Tests sections.
Solutions

A solution is a clear, homogeneous liquid dosage form that contains one or more chemical substances (e.g., drug substances or excipients) dissolved in a solvent
(aqueous or nonaqueous) or a mixture of mutually miscible solvents. Solutions intended for parenteral administration (e.g., by injection or for irrigation) must be
sterile and biocompatible with the intended administration site. This includes consideration of factors such as tonicity, pH, pyrogenicity, extraneous particulate
matter, and physicochemical compatibility, among others.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for solutions for injection:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Antimicrobial Preservatives
Sterile Powders for Solutions

Sterile powders for solutions (also referred to as sterile powders for injection) consist of drug substances and other components as dry-formulation ingredients to
ensure the chemical and physical stability of the presentation within a nal-use container. Companion sterile diluent or diluent compartments may be provided to
facilitate constitution to the desired nal volume.
The sterile article for injection may be presented in several forms: lyophilized powder intended for nal solution, powdered solids intended for nal solution, or dry
solids that form viscous liquids upon constitution.
The description should include a section that deals with ease of dispersion and reconstitution. The dosage form is a homogeneous solid that is readily constituted
to the nal form with the speci ed diluent, and dispersion is completed with gentle agitation.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests apply to sterile powders for injection:
Universal Tests
The following applies to constituted solutions:
Chapter 〈905〉: To ensure the consistency of dosage units, each unit in a batch should have a drug substance content within a narrow range around the label
claim. Dosage units are de ned as dosage forms that contain a single dose or a part of a dose of drug substance in each unit. For liquid dosage forms
analysts should conduct the assay on an amount of well-mixed constituted material that is removed from an individual container under conditions of normal
use, should express the results as delivered dose, and should calculate the acceptance value.
The following applies to dry cake:
Loss on Drying 〈731〉: The procedure set forth in this chapter determines the amount of volatile matter of any kind that is driven off under the conditions
speci ed.
Chapter 〈921〉: Water or solvent content may have important effects on reconstitution and stability. For articles that require water or solvent content control,
analysts should perform one of the methods described in 〈921〉 or a suitable replacement.
Appearance: Analysts should assess the level of and the unit variation for the following parameters:
Color of Dry Cake: Varies within target parameters
Texture and Homogeneity of Dry Cake: Varies within target parameters
Presence of Foreign Material: All units with visible foreign material must be rejected
Suspensions

Parenteral suspensions are liquid dosage forms that contain solid particles in a state of uniform dispersion. Suspensions for parenteral administration must be
sterile and compatible with the administration site. Consideration should be given to pH and pyrogenicity, and appropriate limits should be identi ed. Physical
stability evaluations of parenteral suspension preparations should include evaluations to con rm that the particle size range of suspended matter does not change
with time and to con rm that the solids in the preparation can be readily resuspended to yield a uniform preparation.
The following tests are required for suspensions for injection unless otherwise justi ed:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Uniformity of Dosage Units
Antimicrobial Preservatives
Liposomes

Liposomes are unique drug products with unique properties that can be either solutions or suspensions. Liposomes are aqueous dispersions of amphiphilic lipids
and have low water solubility. They are organized as a bilayer sheet that encloses an internal aqueous compartment and are known as lipid bilayer vesicles.
Liposomes can have a single lipid bilayer (unilamellar vesicle) or can have an onion-like multilayered structure (multilamellar vesicle). The amphiphilic lipids

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comprise a hydrated head group at the water interface of the bilayer attached to a hydrophobic group that forms the interior of the bilayer by association with the
hydrophobic group of lipids from the opposite lea et of the bilayer. The physical properties of the liposome and its bilayer can vary widely and depend on lipid
composition, aqueous composition, and temperature relative to the acyl components' phase transition points. Because of the central aqueous compartment, a
simple test for the presence of liposomes in a lipid dispersion is to determine the presence of an entrapped aqueous phase.
A liposome drug product consists of the drug substance, liposome components, and other inactive but critical ingredients such as an aqueous dispersion unless
the contents are a lyophilized product.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for liposomes:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Globule Size Distribution in Lipid Injectable Emulsions 〈729〉
Sterile Powders for Suspensions

Sterile powders for suspensions consist of drug substances and other components as dry-formulation ingredients to ensure the chemical and physical stability of
the presentation within a nal-use container. Companion sterile diluent or diluent compartments may be provided to facilitate constitution to the desired nal volume.
The sterile article for injection may be presented in several forms: lyophilized powder intended for nal suspension, powdered solids intended for nal suspension,
and microparticles that retain their integrity and are delivered as a sterile suspension. The description should include a section that deals with ease of dispersion and
reconstitution. The dosage form is a homogeneous solid that is readily constituted to the nal form with the speci ed diluent, and dispersion is completed with
gentle agitation.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests apply to sterile powders for injection:
Universal Tests
Microparticles: Some microparticles are provided as a sterile powder to be reconstituted as a suspension before injection. The majority of microparticle
preparations are for reconstitution as a suspension for injection. For quality test requirements, please refer to Implants.
Emulsions

Emulsions for parenteral dosage forms are liquid preparations of drug substances dissolved or dispersed in a suitable emulsion medium. Oil-in-water or water-in-
oil emulsions typically entrap the drug substance.
Emulsions typically are white, turbid, homogeneous liquid dosage forms that contain one or more chemical substances (e.g., drug substances and excipients)
dissolved in a solvent (aqueous or nonaqueous) or mixture of mutually miscible solvents. Emulsions intended for intravenous administration must be sterile and
must be compatible with the intended administration site.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for emulsions for injection:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Chapter 〈729〉
Implants

Implants for extended release consist of a matrix of drug substance and polymeric excipient that may or may not have an outer rate-controlling membrane. The
polymeric excipient must be biocompatible but may or may not be bioresorbable. Some implants are made from medical-grade metal with an osmotic pump inside
that effects the extended release of the drug substance. Implants must be sterile and usually are formed in the shape of a cylinder, although other shapes are used.
Solvents used to dissolve the formulation can lead to sterilization, and thus the internal sterility test method should demonstrate that the sample preparation does
not lead to sterilization of the test sample.
Cylindrically shaped implants for systemic delivery usually are provided in an inserter for subcutaneous or local administration such as local ocular delivery.
Implants also can be surgically implanted for local delivery, e.g., ocular delivery.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for implants:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Uniformity of Dosage Units
In situ Gels

Sterile in situ gels are liquid preparations that are intended for injection into speci c therapeutic targets. Typically they consist of polymers in organic solvents, and
upon injection the solvents migrate away from the site, leaving a gelled mass. The preparations may be injected as-is, upon reconstitution, from in situ formation, or
from chemically initiated catalysis that results in the nal form.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for in situ gels:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Antimicrobial Preservatives
Microparticles

Injectable, resorbable microparticles for extended release generally range from 20 to 100 µm in diameter. They consist of drug substances embedded within a
biocompatible, bioresorbable polymeric excipient, e.g., polyester excipients. Microparticles are provided as a sterile powder in a vial or syringe.
Just before intramuscular or subcutaneous administration, the microparticle powder should be suspended in an aqueous injection vehicle (diluent). The injection
vehicle usually consists of water for injection, surfactant, and a viscosity enhancer, and the vehicle may contain a compound that adjusts osmolality, e.g., a sugar
with or without a compound that controls pH, e.g., an acid. The injection vehicle must be sterile and must be tested according to requirements for solutions that are
intended for parenteral administration.
Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for microparticles for injection:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Uniformity of Dosage Units
Water Content
Drug-Eluting Stents

Drug-eluting stents are tiny metal or polymer scaffolds used to keep arteries open following a medical intervention; the drug substance is incorporated into or onto
the stent platform. Drug-eluting stents typically have two components of testing: (1) functional tests that generally are American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) International methods that fall outside the scope of this chapter and (2) analytical tests.

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Unless otherwise justi ed, the following tests are required for drug-eluting stents:
Universal Tests
Speci c Tests
Uniformity of Dosage Units. The content of the active substance in the dosage form is applicable for drug-eluting stents packaged in single-unit
containers. The test can be performed by either content uniformity or weight variation (see 〈905〉). With appropriate justi cation, the number of stents
needed for this test may be fewer than the recommended number of stents in 〈905〉.
〈88〉Biological ReactivityTests, In Vivo

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