QUALIFICATION OF HPLC
PRESENTED BY:-
MANGESH LAVANGE
GUIDE- DR. INDU PAL KAUR
M PHARM 1ST SEM, PA
UIPS, PANJAB UNIVERSITY
CHANDIGARH, 160014
What is Qualification?
 Action of proving and documenting that equipment or ancillary systems are
properly installed, work correctly, and actually lead to the expected results.
 The entire qualification consists of four parts:
1. Design qualification(DQ)
2. Installation qualification(IQ)
3. Operational qualification(OQ)
4. Performance qualification(PQ).
Types of qualification
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
Design
Qualification(DQ)
Installation Qualification
(IQ)
Operational Qualification
(OQ)
Performance
Qualification (PQ)
High performance liquid chromatography
( HPLC )
 HPLC is a form of column chromatography that pumps at high pressure a sample (analyte) dissolved in a
solvent (mobile phase) through a column with an immobilized chromatographic packing material
(stationary phase).
 As the sample passes through the column, analytes having the strongest interactions with the stationary
phase exit the column the slowest, meaning they exhibit the longest retention times.
 In contrast, samples demonstrating little interaction with the column material elute quickly and are thus
characterized by short retention times.
 The properties of the sample and the solvent, as well as the nature of the stationary phase, determine
the retention time of the analytes, or how fast they pass through the column.
 Upon exiting the column, the mobile phase passes through a detection module, such as a fluorimeter or
a UV-absorbance detector. Selection of the appropriate detector and monitoring wavelengths is
essential for optimizing the sensitivity of HPLC detection.
Qualification of HPLC
 Qualification of HPLC involves 4 levels.
 The core document “Qualification of Equipment” contains the common information of level 1 and level II
qualification which is common to all types of instruments.
 Level III and level IV qualifications must be carried out being an ISO17025 requirement.
 Combined test procedures can be applied to carry out Level III and Level IV qualifications to check
several parameters simultaneously. E.g. overall system performance test for peak area precision,
retention time precision, gradient reproducibility, etc.
Continued…
 Level I Qualification: At level I of the qualification of a HPLC ( selection of instruments and suppliers) it
is recommended to select a manufacturer of HPLC instrument that can satisfy the needs of the
laboratory and works under ISO 9001 certification.
 Level II Qualification: At level II of the qualification of a HPLC instrument ( installation and release for
use ) it is recommended to check all requirements set during the selection of the instrument, and
calibration should be performed before putting into service by an accredited external service supplier, or
internally y appropriately qualified personnel, using certified reference buffers according to an approved
procedure.
 Level III Qualification: Periodic and motivated instrument checks. Various recommendations and
acceptance limits are qualified in this level of qualification.
Instrument module Parameter to be checked Typical acceptance limits
Solvent delivery system • Flow rate accuracy(HPLC)
• Flow rate accuracy (UHPLC)
• Flow rate precision ( HPLC and
UHPLC)
• Gradient composition accuracy
• Gradient ripple
± 5.0%
± 3.0%
RSD ≤ 0.5%
± 2.0%
≤ 0.2%
Injector • Volume precision (HPLC and
UHPLC)
• Carry-over
RSD ≤ 1.0%
≤ 0.2%
Autosampler • Thermostating accuracy ± 3˚C
Oven or cooling device (column) • Thermostating accuracy
• Thermostating stability
± 2˚C
≤ 1˚C
Multi-wavelength detector • Linearity
• Wavelength accuracy
• Drift
r² ≥ 0.9990
± 2nm
Annex I
Fluorescence detector • Wavelength accuracy (
excitation and emission)
• Signal/Noise ratio
± 3nm
≥400
Electrochemical detectors
 Amperometric detection
 Integrated amperometric
detection
 Conductivity detection
 Coulometric detection
• Drift (cell current)
• Noise
• Linearity
• Drift
• Noise
• Linearity
• Drift
• Noise
• Annexure 1
≤8 pA/h
≤2 pA
r² ≥ 0.9990
≤1250 pC/20 min
MW 20 readouts <160 pC
r² ≥ 0.9990
≤2 nS
≤20 nS/h
Annexure 1
Refractive index detector • Signal/noise ratio
• Drift over time
• linearity
≥10
±0.1 mV/min
r² ≥ 0.9950
Circular dichroism detector • Linearity
• Signal/noise ratio
• Drift over time
• Spectra comparison
r² ≥ 0.9950
>1.0
≤0.1 meg/h
± 4nm
Charged aerosol detector • Baseline noise
• Largest random spike
• Baseline drift
• Repetablility
• Signal/ noise ratio
• Signal calibration
≤0.04 pA
≤0.2 pA
≤0.04 pA/min
RSD ≤ 10%
≥10
r² ≥ 0.9990
Evaporative light scattering
detector
• Noise
• Baseline drift
• Repeatability
≤2 mV
≤2.0 mV/h
RSD ≤ 3.0%
Level IV Qualification
 In-use instrument checks
Parameters to be checked Acceptance limits
• System suitability According to validated in-house method
• Peak area precision (assay, application to the main
peak of the analyte when not saturated)
• Peak area precision related substances
RSD ≤1.5%
(minimum 5 injections of test or reference solution)
(unless otherwise prescribed in the system suitability
of the method e.g.: specific requirements dossiers)
RSD ≤5.0%
(minimum 3 injection of the diluted solution or
reference solution used for quantification)
(unless otherwise prescribed in the system suitability
of the method e.g.: specific requirements)
• Retention time precision (applicable to the main
peak of the standard solution when not saturated)
RSD ≤ 2.0%
(minimum 5 injections of test or reference solution)
• Carry-over (by comparing consecutive injections of
a standard solution of the substance being
quantified and a blank injection)
≤0.2% (assay)
Below disregard limit (related substances)
• Signal/ noise ratio ( to be applied for related
substances test only)
BASELINE NOISE AND DRIFT:
•Drift and baseline noise are important factors for UV detectors. Increased baseline noise considerably
reduces the sensitivity, as it is not possible to distinguish between low-level signals and noise. With
increased drift, it is more difficult to integrate the signals correctly because the less stable the baseline is,
the more inaccurate is integration.
•The baseline noise of the detector mainly depends on the lamp. There is a considerable increase in noise if
an old lamp with poor light intensity is used. This is also true when the flow cells is dirty. In addition make
sure that the flow cells free from gas bubbles.
•To measure the drift of a UV detector, also make sure that all measuring conditions are constant. In
addition, it is very important that the lamp has been burning for several hours in the detector environment,
avoid direct sunlight.
•The lamp intensity decreases while the lamp is burning. Besides, the lamp ages when it is turned on and off
very often.
Continued…
 EVALUATING BASELINE NOISE AND DRIFT:
 •TO check noise, drift water is pumped through the cell at a flow rate of 1ml/min.
The UV signal is recorded at 254nm.
 •To calculate noise the measuring signal is split into 20 intervals for 1min each. For
each interval chromeleon calculates a regression based on measured values, using
the method of least square. The limit should be between <2 x 10- 3 AU.
 •To calculate the drift, chromeleon calculates a regression line from all data points
with in a range of 1-21mins based on the method of least square. The slope of the
regression line is the calculated drift. The limit should be between <5 x 10—5 AU.
PRECISION OF INJECTION VOLUME:
 •Precision of injection volume is an important parameter for accuracy of quantitation.
EVALUATING PRECISION OF INJECTION VOLUME
 •Inject 6 standard caffeine solution and calculate height, area, average height, average area, %RSD of
height and %RSD of area which gives precision of volume and the limit should be in between 0.3% RSD.
DETECTOR LINEARITY:
•Linearity of a detector is a critical parameter to establish for reliable and accurate quantitative results.
EVALUATING DETECTOR LINEARITY:
•A series of 5 traceable standards (caffeine solution of concentration about 0.00035 to 0.35mg/ml) are
injected and evaluated. The detector linearity is calculated by determining the peak area vs concentration.
%RSD can also be calculated for checking the detector linearity. The limit should be in between >1.5 AU,
5% RSD.
Wavelength accuracy:
 •It is an important parameter for accuracy of quantitative and qualitative analysis.
EVALUATING WAVELENGTH ACCURACY:
 •Traceable caffeine standard is used to determine the wavelength accuracy. Caffeine is trapped in the flow cell
and a programmable timetable is used to determine the wavelength maxima (205nm) and minima (273nm). The
wavelength accuracy is determined as the absolute difference between the measured and certified wavelength
values.
TEMPERATURE ACCURACY:
•Temperature fluctuations of the solvent and column can result in considerable retention time fluctuations.
Therefore, accuracy of the temperature is important.
EVALUATING TEMPERATURE ACCURACY:
•4 measuring points are used to check the temperature accuracy of the column compartment. The check is
performed with column oven sequence. The achieved temperature is measured with external calibrated
thermometer.
•The achieved temperatures are compared to the set values. The difference indicates the temperature accuracy and
the limit should be in between ± 1º c
Temperature precision:
 Monitor temperature for 20 min. and limit should be in between ±0.25˚C.
Auto sampler carry-over
 After a highly concentrated sample, a sample containing only solvent is injected.
Ideally only the signal for the solvent is displayed in the chromatogram. However,
if a signal for the sample is displayed, this indicates the carry over by the
autosampler.
EVALUATING AUTOSAMPLER CARRY OVER:
 Run the sample containing only solvent. The signal for solvent will be displayed . If
other signals are displayed it is due to auto sample carry over. Should be less than
0.5%
Documentation:
On completion of equipment qualification , documentation should be available that
consists of :
 Design qualification document .
 IQ document (includes description of hardware and software) .
 Procedures for OQ testing .
 OQ test reports ( includes test parameters, acceptance criteria and actual results.
 PQ test procedures and representative results.
References:
 Ph.Eur.2.2.35 chromatography; High performance liquid chromatography
 Guidance on equipment qualification of analytical instruments
 Journal of Perkin Elmer life & analytical science
 https://www.edqm.eu/sites/default/files/quality_management_document_
annex_1_qualification_of_hplc_equipment.pdf
Qualification of HPLC

Qualification of HPLC

  • 1.
    QUALIFICATION OF HPLC PRESENTEDBY:- MANGESH LAVANGE GUIDE- DR. INDU PAL KAUR M PHARM 1ST SEM, PA UIPS, PANJAB UNIVERSITY CHANDIGARH, 160014
  • 2.
    What is Qualification? Action of proving and documenting that equipment or ancillary systems are properly installed, work correctly, and actually lead to the expected results.  The entire qualification consists of four parts: 1. Design qualification(DQ) 2. Installation qualification(IQ) 3. Operational qualification(OQ) 4. Performance qualification(PQ).
  • 3.
    Types of qualification LevelI Level II Level III Level IV Design Qualification(DQ) Installation Qualification (IQ) Operational Qualification (OQ) Performance Qualification (PQ)
  • 4.
    High performance liquidchromatography ( HPLC )  HPLC is a form of column chromatography that pumps at high pressure a sample (analyte) dissolved in a solvent (mobile phase) through a column with an immobilized chromatographic packing material (stationary phase).  As the sample passes through the column, analytes having the strongest interactions with the stationary phase exit the column the slowest, meaning they exhibit the longest retention times.  In contrast, samples demonstrating little interaction with the column material elute quickly and are thus characterized by short retention times.  The properties of the sample and the solvent, as well as the nature of the stationary phase, determine the retention time of the analytes, or how fast they pass through the column.  Upon exiting the column, the mobile phase passes through a detection module, such as a fluorimeter or a UV-absorbance detector. Selection of the appropriate detector and monitoring wavelengths is essential for optimizing the sensitivity of HPLC detection.
  • 5.
    Qualification of HPLC Qualification of HPLC involves 4 levels.  The core document “Qualification of Equipment” contains the common information of level 1 and level II qualification which is common to all types of instruments.  Level III and level IV qualifications must be carried out being an ISO17025 requirement.  Combined test procedures can be applied to carry out Level III and Level IV qualifications to check several parameters simultaneously. E.g. overall system performance test for peak area precision, retention time precision, gradient reproducibility, etc.
  • 6.
    Continued…  Level IQualification: At level I of the qualification of a HPLC ( selection of instruments and suppliers) it is recommended to select a manufacturer of HPLC instrument that can satisfy the needs of the laboratory and works under ISO 9001 certification.  Level II Qualification: At level II of the qualification of a HPLC instrument ( installation and release for use ) it is recommended to check all requirements set during the selection of the instrument, and calibration should be performed before putting into service by an accredited external service supplier, or internally y appropriately qualified personnel, using certified reference buffers according to an approved procedure.  Level III Qualification: Periodic and motivated instrument checks. Various recommendations and acceptance limits are qualified in this level of qualification.
  • 7.
    Instrument module Parameterto be checked Typical acceptance limits Solvent delivery system • Flow rate accuracy(HPLC) • Flow rate accuracy (UHPLC) • Flow rate precision ( HPLC and UHPLC) • Gradient composition accuracy • Gradient ripple ± 5.0% ± 3.0% RSD ≤ 0.5% ± 2.0% ≤ 0.2% Injector • Volume precision (HPLC and UHPLC) • Carry-over RSD ≤ 1.0% ≤ 0.2% Autosampler • Thermostating accuracy ± 3˚C Oven or cooling device (column) • Thermostating accuracy • Thermostating stability ± 2˚C ≤ 1˚C Multi-wavelength detector • Linearity • Wavelength accuracy • Drift r² ≥ 0.9990 ± 2nm Annex I
  • 8.
    Fluorescence detector •Wavelength accuracy ( excitation and emission) • Signal/Noise ratio ± 3nm ≥400 Electrochemical detectors  Amperometric detection  Integrated amperometric detection  Conductivity detection  Coulometric detection • Drift (cell current) • Noise • Linearity • Drift • Noise • Linearity • Drift • Noise • Annexure 1 ≤8 pA/h ≤2 pA r² ≥ 0.9990 ≤1250 pC/20 min MW 20 readouts <160 pC r² ≥ 0.9990 ≤2 nS ≤20 nS/h Annexure 1 Refractive index detector • Signal/noise ratio • Drift over time • linearity ≥10 ±0.1 mV/min r² ≥ 0.9950
  • 9.
    Circular dichroism detector• Linearity • Signal/noise ratio • Drift over time • Spectra comparison r² ≥ 0.9950 >1.0 ≤0.1 meg/h ± 4nm Charged aerosol detector • Baseline noise • Largest random spike • Baseline drift • Repetablility • Signal/ noise ratio • Signal calibration ≤0.04 pA ≤0.2 pA ≤0.04 pA/min RSD ≤ 10% ≥10 r² ≥ 0.9990 Evaporative light scattering detector • Noise • Baseline drift • Repeatability ≤2 mV ≤2.0 mV/h RSD ≤ 3.0%
  • 10.
    Level IV Qualification In-use instrument checks Parameters to be checked Acceptance limits • System suitability According to validated in-house method • Peak area precision (assay, application to the main peak of the analyte when not saturated) • Peak area precision related substances RSD ≤1.5% (minimum 5 injections of test or reference solution) (unless otherwise prescribed in the system suitability of the method e.g.: specific requirements dossiers) RSD ≤5.0% (minimum 3 injection of the diluted solution or reference solution used for quantification) (unless otherwise prescribed in the system suitability of the method e.g.: specific requirements)
  • 11.
    • Retention timeprecision (applicable to the main peak of the standard solution when not saturated) RSD ≤ 2.0% (minimum 5 injections of test or reference solution) • Carry-over (by comparing consecutive injections of a standard solution of the substance being quantified and a blank injection) ≤0.2% (assay) Below disregard limit (related substances) • Signal/ noise ratio ( to be applied for related substances test only)
  • 12.
    BASELINE NOISE ANDDRIFT: •Drift and baseline noise are important factors for UV detectors. Increased baseline noise considerably reduces the sensitivity, as it is not possible to distinguish between low-level signals and noise. With increased drift, it is more difficult to integrate the signals correctly because the less stable the baseline is, the more inaccurate is integration. •The baseline noise of the detector mainly depends on the lamp. There is a considerable increase in noise if an old lamp with poor light intensity is used. This is also true when the flow cells is dirty. In addition make sure that the flow cells free from gas bubbles. •To measure the drift of a UV detector, also make sure that all measuring conditions are constant. In addition, it is very important that the lamp has been burning for several hours in the detector environment, avoid direct sunlight. •The lamp intensity decreases while the lamp is burning. Besides, the lamp ages when it is turned on and off very often.
  • 13.
    Continued…  EVALUATING BASELINENOISE AND DRIFT:  •TO check noise, drift water is pumped through the cell at a flow rate of 1ml/min. The UV signal is recorded at 254nm.  •To calculate noise the measuring signal is split into 20 intervals for 1min each. For each interval chromeleon calculates a regression based on measured values, using the method of least square. The limit should be between <2 x 10- 3 AU.  •To calculate the drift, chromeleon calculates a regression line from all data points with in a range of 1-21mins based on the method of least square. The slope of the regression line is the calculated drift. The limit should be between <5 x 10—5 AU.
  • 14.
    PRECISION OF INJECTIONVOLUME:  •Precision of injection volume is an important parameter for accuracy of quantitation. EVALUATING PRECISION OF INJECTION VOLUME  •Inject 6 standard caffeine solution and calculate height, area, average height, average area, %RSD of height and %RSD of area which gives precision of volume and the limit should be in between 0.3% RSD. DETECTOR LINEARITY: •Linearity of a detector is a critical parameter to establish for reliable and accurate quantitative results. EVALUATING DETECTOR LINEARITY: •A series of 5 traceable standards (caffeine solution of concentration about 0.00035 to 0.35mg/ml) are injected and evaluated. The detector linearity is calculated by determining the peak area vs concentration. %RSD can also be calculated for checking the detector linearity. The limit should be in between >1.5 AU, 5% RSD.
  • 15.
    Wavelength accuracy:  •Itis an important parameter for accuracy of quantitative and qualitative analysis. EVALUATING WAVELENGTH ACCURACY:  •Traceable caffeine standard is used to determine the wavelength accuracy. Caffeine is trapped in the flow cell and a programmable timetable is used to determine the wavelength maxima (205nm) and minima (273nm). The wavelength accuracy is determined as the absolute difference between the measured and certified wavelength values. TEMPERATURE ACCURACY: •Temperature fluctuations of the solvent and column can result in considerable retention time fluctuations. Therefore, accuracy of the temperature is important. EVALUATING TEMPERATURE ACCURACY: •4 measuring points are used to check the temperature accuracy of the column compartment. The check is performed with column oven sequence. The achieved temperature is measured with external calibrated thermometer. •The achieved temperatures are compared to the set values. The difference indicates the temperature accuracy and the limit should be in between ± 1º c
  • 16.
    Temperature precision:  Monitortemperature for 20 min. and limit should be in between ±0.25˚C. Auto sampler carry-over  After a highly concentrated sample, a sample containing only solvent is injected. Ideally only the signal for the solvent is displayed in the chromatogram. However, if a signal for the sample is displayed, this indicates the carry over by the autosampler. EVALUATING AUTOSAMPLER CARRY OVER:  Run the sample containing only solvent. The signal for solvent will be displayed . If other signals are displayed it is due to auto sample carry over. Should be less than 0.5%
  • 17.
    Documentation: On completion ofequipment qualification , documentation should be available that consists of :  Design qualification document .  IQ document (includes description of hardware and software) .  Procedures for OQ testing .  OQ test reports ( includes test parameters, acceptance criteria and actual results.  PQ test procedures and representative results.
  • 18.
    References:  Ph.Eur.2.2.35 chromatography;High performance liquid chromatography  Guidance on equipment qualification of analytical instruments  Journal of Perkin Elmer life & analytical science  https://www.edqm.eu/sites/default/files/quality_management_document_ annex_1_qualification_of_hplc_equipment.pdf