Agilent Introduces New Handheld Raw Material ID System for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Agilent Technologies Inc. announced the launch of the newest instrument in its Raman technology portfolio. The new Agilent Vaya Raman raw material identity verification system is a handheld instrument that accelerates quality control testing in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.

Vaya verifies raw material identity through unopened transparent and non-transparent packaging, testing more containers for the same cost by reducing the need for sampling. Incoming goods can be tested quickly in the warehouse on receipt, reducing operator time and sample-handling booth usage. Testing through sealed containers also avoids handler exposure to high potency APIs and maintains the shelf life of sterile contents, helping to prevent unnecessary waste.

“Improving the speed and efficiency of raw material testing has a major impact on pharma and biopharma manufacturing,” said Paul Loeffen, Agilent vice president and general manager of the company’s Molecular Spectroscopy Division. “Testing requirements are trending toward higher volumes, even 100% of containers in many cases, and conventional techniques can be extremely resource-intensive. Vaya’s through-container capability bypasses the bottlenecks, offering our customers a significant cost- and resource-saving solution.”

Vaya is the first true through-barrier handheld Raman instrument, incorporating Agilent’s spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) technology for fast ID of incoming goods through opaque containers in a GMP ready package. Vaya combines SORS with conventional Raman spectroscopy for maximum compatibility with a wide range of packaging–from clear glass vials and plastic bags to opaque plastics and paper sacks.