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21
Feb 2025

Ensuring Cold Chain Safety: Cold Temperature Leak Detection with PTI's SIMS 1915+ LT Low Temp Units

Ensuring Cold Chain Safety: Cold Temperature Leak Detection with PTI's SIMS 1915+ LT Low Temp Units

The pharmaceutical industry requires deep cold storage for intricate drug and biologic formulations. Traditional packaging may not endure these extreme temperatures, resulting in leaks and product degradation. PTI's LT add-on units for SIMS helium leak detectors provide advanced solutions that assess package integrity at temperatures ranging from 0°C to -160°C. This helps manufacturers detect defects and optimize packaging for reliable performance in deep cold storage.

How does Cold Temperature Leak Detection with PTI's SIMS 1915+ LT add-on units work? 

Cold temperature leak detection with PTI's SIMS 1915+ LT add-on units work by combining advanced helium leak detection technology with a cooling system that allows for accurate testing of packages at ultra-low temperatures, down to -1600°C. The system incorporates a Chiller that conditions and monitors the temperature of the package while simultaneously performing helium leak testing. Helium is introduced into the package, and any leaks, particularly in critical areas like elastomeric seals, are detected by the SIMS 1915+ helium leak detector. The add-on units enable manufacturers to evaluate package integrity under cold storage conditions, ensuring materials like elastomeric closures, which may experience physical changes at low temperatures, are tested for potential leaks. This process helps manufacturers optimize packaging designs, improve product quality, and ensure compliance with regulations like USP 1207 and USP 382. The SIMS 1915+ LT system offers a comprehensive solution for assessing package integrity in deep cold storage environments.

The LT systems provide several important benefits for the pharmaceutical industry:

  • Precise Low-Temperature Leak Detection: Effectively detects leaks in packaging materials at extremely low temperatures.
  • Improved Product Quality: Maintains the integrity of sensitive products, preventing degradation and preserving potency.
  • Minimized Product Loss: Reduces waste caused by leakage and spoilage, optimizing inventory and lowering costs.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Meets stringent regulatory requirements, such as USP 1207 and USP 382 ensuring the safety and quality of products.

By combining helium leak detection with precise temperature conditioning, these systems help manufacturers detect leaks, particularly in vulnerable areas like elastomeric seals, and optimize packaging designs to maintain product quality. With the ability to test packages at temperatures ranging from 0°C to -160°C, the LT systems offer significant advantages, including improved product quality, reduced waste, and regulatory compliance with standards like USP 1207. This comprehensive approach to cold temperature leak detection ensures the safety, reliability, and efficacy of sensitive pharmaceutical products, safeguarding both product integrity and patient outcomes.

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helium leak testing, helium leak detection, pharmaceutical packaging helium leak detector
17
19
Feb 2025

How PTI SIMS 1915+ Provides Superior Package Integrity Evaluation Compared to Traditional Vacuum Bubble and Dye Penetration Tests? 

How PTI SIMS 1915+ Provides Superior Package Integrity Evaluation Compared to Traditional Vacuum Bubble and Dye Penetration Tests? 

Ensuring that packaging maintains its protective role without any leaks or failures is essential for product safety and quality. Traditional methods, such as Vacuum Bubble and Dye Penetration tests, have long been used to assess the integrity of sealed packages. Advancements in testing technologies have led to the development of more sophisticated methods like SIMS 1915+, which offers enhanced sensitivity and reliability compared to these conventional techniques.

Traditional package integrity tests 

Traditional package integrity tests are commonly used in the packaging industry to ensure that products, especially sterile or sensitive ones, are protected during transportation and storage. The traditional tests include:

  • Vacuum Bubble Test:
  • This test involves submerging the package in a liquid (often water) and applying a vacuum. If there's a leak, air bubbles will form at the site of the breach, making it possible to visually detect the failure.

  • Dye Penetration Test:
  • In this test, a dye (usually a coloured liquid) is applied to the package and then observed for signs of leakage. If there is a flaw or hole in the package, the dye will penetrate through it, and this is detected visually.

Helium Leak Testing using SIMS 1915+

Seal Integrity Monitoring System (SIMS) 1915+ is the perfect choice for a helium leak detection solution. Packages can be quantitatively evaluated to levels significantly higher than the vacuum bubble and dye penetration test procedures when helium is used as the tracer gas. By offering direct comparison over a wide range of packing materials and kinds, production line settings, and stable storage conditions, this quantitative technique supports the full lifespan. Package design, tooling certification, manufacturing line setup, and ongoing product quality monitoring are all possible using SIMS 1915+. Every SIMS 1915+ helium leak testing apparatus is constructed in accordance with the requirements of the client. The sensitivity of the quantitative CCI assessments that SIMS 1915+ can perform on packages is as low as 1 x 10 -10 mbar L/s. SIMS 1915+ also offers a complete Data Integrity software package compliant with 21CFR Part 11 requirements.

Benefits of SIMS 1915+ 

  • High Sensitivity: Detects leaks as small as 1 x 10^-10 mbar/L/sec, far surpassing traditional methods.
  • Quantitative Leak Detection: Provides precise leak rate measurement for better quality control and analysis.
  • Versatile and Comprehensive: Suitable for a wide range of packaging formats, including bottles, syringes, vials, and blister cards.
  • Customization for Specific Needs: Tailored to customer specifications for packaging types and production environments.
  • Enhanced Regulatory Compliance: Provides verifiable evidence of packaging integrity, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

The SIMS 1915+ helium-based leak detection system represents a significant advancement in package integrity testing. With its high sensitivity, ability to perform quantitative leak detection, and compatibility with a wide range of packaging formats, SIMS 1915+ offers a more accurate, reliable, and efficient solution.

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helium leak testing, helium leak detection, pharmaceutical packaging
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