Containers Flashcards
What does the USP classify containers according to?
Their ability to protect contents from external conditions
What are some basic characteristics of a good container?
Inert material Withstand temperature and mechanical use Protection from radiation and microbiological contamination Transparent Inexpensive Space for label Facilitate storage
What is a USP container?
Holds article, may or may not be in direct contact with it
What is an immediate container?
Direct contact with article at all times
What is a well-closed container?
Protects contents from extraneous solids and the loss of article under ordinary handling, shipping, storage, distribution
What is a tight container?
Protects contents from contamination by extraneous liquids, solids, vapours, and from loss from efflorescence, deliquescence, evaporation
What is deliquescence?
To dissolve and become liquid by absorbing moisture from air
What is efflorescence?
Loss of water of crystallization from hydrated/solvated salt due to exposure to air
What is a hermetic container?
Impervious to air/gas under ordinary conditions (e.g., single use or multiple-dose containers)
Can withdraw liquid without changing its quality, purity, strength
What is a unit-dose container
Single-unit contained for articles intended for administration by route other than parenteral as a single dose, direct from container
Do single unit containers need to be child resistant?
Yes (including blister packs) but not in hospitals
What is the USP definition for cold?
Any temperature not exceeding 8C
Fridge: 2-8C
Freezer: -10 to -25C
What is the USP definition for cool?
8-15C
May store in fridge unless otherwise specified
What is the USP definition for room temperature?
20-25C is typical room temperature, but can be as wide as 15-30C
What is USP definition for warm?
30-40C
What is USP definition for excessive heat?
> 40C
How do you test for chemical resistance in borosilicate glass, treated soda-lime glass, and soda-lime glass?
Borosilicate = powdered glass
Treated soda-lime = water attack
Soda-lime = powdered glass
What are some test methods to test plastic containers?
IR, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), biological tests, physicochemical tests (air permeability, leaching into plastic, surface adsorption, light transmission, plasticizer)
What are biological tests? What do they measure? What are the different grades?
Measure the biological reactivity of mammalian cell cultures following contact with elastomeric plastics and other polymeric materials
Grade 0 = No reactivity (no cell lysis)
Grade 1 = Slight reactivity (occasional lysed cells)
Grade 2 = Mild reactivity (no extensive cell lysis, empty areas between cells)
Grade 3 = Moderate reactivity (not more than 70% of cells lysed)
Grade 4 = Nearly complete destruction of cell layers
In tight containers, moisture permeability should not exceed what?
> 100mg/day/L in one container, none should exceed 200mg/day/L
In well-closed containers, moisture permeability should not exceed what?
> 2000mg/day/L in one container, none should exceed >3000mg/day/L
What must pharmacist include on blister packs/customized medication package? What container class must these packs comply with?
Date/time contents are to be taken Patient package insert OR single, overall medication educational insert Container must comply with class B single-unit container and should not be re-closable/show signs of being tampered with
What are the four classes of containers (A-D)?
Class A: Not more than 1 of 10 containers tested exceeds 0.5mg/day in moisture permeation rates and none exceeds 1mg/day
Class B: Not exceeding 5mg/day and none exceeding >10mg/day
Class C: Not exceeding 20mg/day and none exceeding >40mg/day
Class D: Containers tested meet none of the moisture permeation requirements
What must the label for custom patient medication packages include?
Name Serial number Name, strength, description, quantity of drugs Directions and cautionary statements Storage Prescriber name BUD Pharmacy contact info