Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

USP sets 'repackaging' standards

The packaging material used for repackaging a tablet or capsule into a unit-dose blister pack should be selected for both barrier properties and how the package will be used.

So says the first supplement to The United States Pharmacopeia, 25th Revision, and the National Formulary, 20th Edition, 25th revision. The information does not carry legal force nor does it replace requirements from any regulatory agency.

For drugs that require moisture protection, the supplement recommends that repackagers like hospitals and clinics use a blister film that provides high or extreme moisture protection. The chapter rates a number of blister materials, suggesting that polyvinyl chloride provides only a nominal-to-zero moisture barrier.

However, when laminated to a fluoropolymer or coated with polyvinylidene chloride, PVC can achieve an extreme level of protection. The level of protection, a chapter points out, should be judged on the material’s performance as a formed blister, not as a flat sheet. The chapter also suggests how to calculate “beyond-use” dates and an inspection program for the repackaging operation. —AO

Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Discover which palletizing technology—robotic, conventional, or hybrid—will maximize your packaging line efficiency while minimizing long-term costs in this comprehensive analysis.
Read More
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in packaging & processing!
At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, you’ll see machinery in action and new tech from 2,300 suppliers, collaborate with experts and explore transformative solutions. Join us this September to experience a breakthrough in packaging and processing.
REGISTER NOW AND SAVE
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in packaging & processing!