Friability Testing: Ensuring Your Tablets Survive the Supply Chain

Introduction

A perfect tablet is useless if it arrives at the pharmacy as powder. Friability testing simulates the stresses of coating, packaging, and shipping by tumbling tablets in a rotating drum.

Testing Parameters

The USP <1216> standard requires a specific drum speed (25 rpm) for a specific duration (100 rotations).

• The 1% Rule: For most products, a weight loss of less than 1.0% is the threshold for success.

• Design for Durability: If a tablet fails, formulators must adjust binders or compression force to enhance the physical matrix.

Conclusion

Friability testing is the "stress test" that guarantees your brand's reputation for quality from factory to patient.