Standard Operating Procedure for Sealing Quality Testing during Packing
| Department | Sterile Injection Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| SOP No. | SOP/SIM/195/2025 |
| Supersedes | SOP/SIM/195/2022 |
| Page No. | Page 1 of 13 |
| Issue Date | 24/06/2025 |
| Effective Date | 26/06/2025 |
| Review Date | 24/06/2026 |
1. Purpose
To establish a standardized procedure for performing sealing quality tests during packing operations of sterile injectable products to ensure proper container closure integrity and compliance with GMP guidelines.
2. Scope
This SOP applies to all visual and mechanical sealing quality tests conducted during the secondary and tertiary packing
of injectable vials, ampoules, and prefilled syringes within the sterile injection manufacturing facility.
3. Responsibilities
- Packing Operator: Conducts sealing tests as per the procedure and records results.
- Quality Assurance Officer: Verifies adherence to sealing quality criteria and reviews documentation.
- Packing Supervisor: Ensures operators are trained and SOP compliance is maintained.
4. Accountability
The Head of Quality Assurance is accountable for ensuring proper implementation of this SOP and for verifying compliance with applicable sealing integrity requirements.
5. Procedure
5.1 Sampling and Frequency
- Perform sealing quality tests at the start of batch, after every changeover, and at predefined intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes).
- Sample quantity:
- Vials: 10 per sampling point
- Ampoules: 10 per sampling point
- Prefilled syringes: 5 per sampling point
5.2 Visual Inspection
- Inspect the seal under adequate lighting for:
- Proper alignment
- Absence of crimping or wrinkling
- No visible leakage or seal gaps
- Record results in the Sealing Quality Log (Annexure-1).
5.3 Physical Seal Integrity Testing
- Vials: Perform dye ingress test:
- Immerse sealed vials in 0.1% methylene blue solution and apply vacuum for 10 minutes.
- Observe for dye entry; reject any vial with ingress.
- Ampoules: Conduct flame test:
- Hold ampoule near flame; observe for leakage via bubbling or flame distortion.
- Prefilled syringes: Use vacuum chamber method or apply controlled pressure to detect leaks.
5.4 Acceptance Criteria
- No seal breakage, wrinkles, or misalignment.
- No leakage, dye ingress, or deformation under pressure.
- Samples must pass all inspection points; failure in one requires batch hold and investigation.
5.5 Documentation and Control
- Record test details in Sealing Quality Log (Annexure-1).
- Report any deviation or failure to QA for disposition.
- Use the Sealing Defect Report Form (Annexure-2) for non-conformities.
- Document corrective action taken and submit for QA review.
5.6 Training
- Operators shall be trained on sealing equipment, defect identification, and test methods.
- Training records must be maintained as per the training matrix (Annexure-3).
6. Abbreviations
- SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
- QA: Quality Assurance
- GMP: Good Manufacturing Practices
- CCIT: Container Closure Integrity Testing
7. Documents
- Sealing Quality Log (Annexure-1)
- Sealing Defect Report Form (Annexure-2)
- Training Record (Annexure-3)
8. References
- WHO TRS 961 Annex 6 – GMP for Sterile Products
- USP <1207> – Packaging Integrity Evaluation
- ICH Q8 – Pharmaceutical Development
9. SOP Version
Version: 2.0
10. Approval Section
| Prepared By | Checked By | Approved By | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | |||
| Date | |||
| Name | |||
| Designation | Manufacturing Executive | QA Executive | Head QA |
| Department | Production | Quality Assurance | Quality Assurance |
11. Annexures
Annexure-1: Sealing Quality Log
| Date | Batch No. | Time | Sample Type | Result | Checked By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/06/2025 | VIAL/240625/01 | 10:00 AM | Vial | Pass | Sunita Reddy |
Annexure-2: Sealing Defect Report Form
| Date | Batch No. | Observed Defect | Corrective Action | QA Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/06/2025 | PFS/240625/03 | Seal misalignment | Line adjusted | Reviewed – Rajesh Kumar |
Annexure-3: Training Record
| Employee Name | Designation | Training Date | Trainer | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asha Mehta | Packing Operator | 20/06/2025 | QA Officer | Completed |
Revision History:
| Revision Date | Revision No. | Details | Reason | Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/03/2022 | 1.0 | Initial issue | New SOP | QA Head |
| 24/06/2025 | 2.0 | Updated procedure and annexures | Periodic Review | QA Head |