This article explains how objective, instrumental color measurement enhances quality control in powdered and solid-dosage pharmaceutical manufacturing. It outlines how spectrophotometric analysis supports purity verification, blend uniformity, regulatory compliance, and process consistency using full visible-range systems such as the UltraScan VIS and Agera L2.
1. Color is a Leading Indicator of Process Integrity
In powdered pharmaceuticals, measurable shifts in L*, a*, or b* values often reveal issues such as impurity formation, oxidation, improper blending, or drying variability before assay failures occur.
2. Instrumental Measurement Eliminates Subjectivity
Visual inspection of powders is unreliable due to light scattering and observer variation. Spectrophotometric measurement provides objective, auditable ΔE values under standardized illumination and geometry.
3. Laboratory and Production Solutions Work Together
The UltraScan VIS (d/8° diffuse geometry) supports reference-grade laboratory validation and spectral analysis, while Agera L2 (0°/45° geometry) enables rapid, repeatable production-floor verification—together forming a complete, compliant color control strategy.
Color is a critical quality attribute in powdered pharmaceutical products, including APIs, excipients, blends, granulations, and coated solids. Even subtle shifts in lightness or chromaticity can indicate oxidation, contamination, polymorphic transformation, improper blending, moisture variation, or thermal degradation
While visual inspection has traditionally been used to evaluate powders, it is inherently subjective and highly influenced by lighting, particle size, packing density, and observer bias. Instrumental color measurement replaces subjective assessment with quantifiable CIELAB (L*, a*, b*) values and ΔE tolerances, enabling:
Batch-to-batch consistency
Early detection of process drift
Numeric blend-homogeneity verification
Regulatory-aligned documentation
- GMP-compliant electronic records
Full visible-range spectrophotometers operating under standardized illuminants (e.g., CIE D65) provide traceable, reproducible results aligned with global pharmacopeial and CIE requirements. By integrating color data into quality systems, manufacturers strengthen compliance, reduce variability, and improve product reliability throughout the development and production lifecycle.
Download the white paper belowDo you need more information? Submit a ticket and a support team member will reach out to you soon!
To learn more about Color and Color Science in industrial QC applications, click here: Fundamentals of Color and Appearance