Suitability of near-infrared methods for the determination of moisture in a freeze-dried injection product containing different amounts of the active ingredient.

A near-infrared reflectance (NIR) method for determination of moisture in an experimental freeze-dried injection product was developed and validated. NIR spectra were collected through the bases of unopened product vials using a horizontal instrument accessory, before generating primary reference data on the same individual vials by Karl-Fischer titration. Data were collected for product containing different concentrations of the active ingredient in the same matrix. NIR calibrations were developed with second derivative spectral data using regression facilities within the NIR software, and validated using independent test sets. An assessment is given of the applicability of moisture calibrations developed on product at one active ingredient level to the prediction of moisture contents in the product containing a different concentration of active ingredient.