The value of near infrared spectroscopy in a small hospital compounding unit to control the risks associated with raw materials

Pharmaceutical products, including capsules, oral suspensions, and solutions, are prepared by hospital pharmacists if no commercial product is available. Identifi cation of the raw materials is a regulatory requirement before manufacturing (compounding). Because of the standard methods used, however, this is often time-consuming and laborious in a hospital setting. This article describes the use of near infrared spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods for discrimination of raw materials. Sixty-three pulverized powder samples were discriminated by using reference samples (identity guaranteed by supplier and confi rmed by mid infrared analyses) and NIRCal cluster analyses. A routine expert application involving optimized calibrations (n = 6) was developed, which allowed a rapid and nondestructive release procedure for every powder-based raw material received. This technique is superior to established identifi cation analyses because of reduced quarantine times and cost savings.