Chromatography Forum

Hi,

Does anybody has an idea about how to test if there has been N2 added to the void above a fluid in a pharmaceutical vial?

We have some glass vials with a pharmaceutical solution, but we are not sure our manufacturer has put N2 on top of the solution.
So instead of waiting 2 years to see if our shelflife has been passed by following our impurities, we would like to have a quicker method.

Any ideas?

Ace

There are ways of separating the main components of air (which is what will presumably be there if there is no nitrogen blanketing) and you can detect them with a TCD. Have a look through the archives. Depending on the exact packaging I would be tempted to do the sampling with an automated headspace sampler - take advantage of the fact that the samples are already in vials.

Peter