DIA India has collaborated with US FDA and Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) to conduct a one-day workshop on 'Rapid Screening Methods' on February 22 at SciTech Centre, Mumbai. This will be a hands-on workshop wherein experts from the Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), FDA will demonstrate the use of portable instruments.

The participants for workshop could also bring samples for rapid testing. There is also an opportunity to demonstrate one’s expertise by taking a table top at the venue, stated Kaushik Desai, director, DIA India.

The main focus of the US FDA team visit is to connect with regulatory and the industry in India. They will deliberate on common interests in rapid screening of pharmaceutical products and other regulated products. The objective of the day-long workshop  program is to develop analytical methods including chemometric methods of analysis that can be deployed by field laboratories and inspectors for the screening of cosmetics, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products.

The workshop is expected to provide immense benefits to professionals involved in quality control, quality assurance and regulatory affairs.

Programme facilitator is Dr Albinus D’sa, Deputy Country Director, US FDA India. The speakers are Dr Lucinda Buhse, director, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis, CDER, Dr Benjamin J Westenberger, deputy director, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis, CDER and Dr John Kauffman, research chemist, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis, CDER.

During the workshop, between 10.30 am and 1 pm, an overview will be provided by US FDA CDER Lab on the specifics of Portable Rapid Assessment Instruments and Hands on Demonstration of Portable Rapid Assessment Instruments.

The  portable instruments of the future which are  used for rapid screening methods cover the  X-ray Fluorescence: Bruker Tracer Turbo SD handheld XRF which emits X-ray radiation only when turned on and in use. The Ion Mobility: Smiths Detection Sabre 4000 is a hand held IMS and contains a low level radioactive source. The Raman: Enwave Optronics EZ-Raman-H G4 Handheld Raman contains a class 3B laser, 785 nm radiation, 300 mW.  Near Infrared Analyser: Thermo Scientific microPHAZIR has a Tungsten bulb light source and a single InGaAs detector.