title: Case studies in blend sampling using a front-loading thief.
abstract: In-process testing is employed in pharmaceutical systems for monitoring and detecting process failures. Blend sampling is a useful in-process test. The present article outlines case studies in which sampling thieves with front-loading and side-vented mechanisms were compared. Blend uniformity analysis (BUA) using a front-loading sampling thief helped confirm or discover blend homogeneity issues and guide the product development process to rational decision points by providing quick responses to actual or impending failure with a low probability of falsely declaring a failure that is not present.
authors.affiliation: Sanofi-Synthelabo, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355, USA. anil.menon@sanofi-synthelabo.com
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Makarand
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jawadekar
mesh_terms: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations