Sunday, April 12, 2026

Cleaning Validation Study on clobetasol 0.05% cream in Pharmaceutical Industry.

 

 

1.   Introduction

Cleaning validation is study done to find the effectiveness and reliability of cleaning pharmaceutical production equipment. People in the pharmaceutical industry use equipment validation and cleaning procedures mainly to prevent cross-contamination that makes these practices crucial. In general, cross-contamination usually happens when an active ingredient from one product is transferred to other product through the instruments improper cleaning that can pose real risks to consumers and second type is contamination by foreign materials, which could be bacteria or fungi .Poor maintenance or storage conditions may let microbes flourish in processing equipment and becomes a serious issue 

Scope of study

 To perform cleaning validation study on equipments used for formulation of products ( Clobetasol 0.05% cream )

3. Methods

3.0: Study Design

The study was designed as experimental study and conducted between January-June 2025.The study was conducted on Clobetasol 0.05% cream manufacturing equipments in class D manufacturing facility in pharmaceutical Industry. Sampling method was selected as Swabbing technique, to study the microbial load on equipments included the study. Total aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC) 100 cfu/ 100 cm 2 and Total Yeast and Mould Count 10cfu/ 100 cm 2   was set as pass limit during cleaning Validation study..

a.To perform cleaning validation study on equipments used for formulation of products(clobetasol cream 0.05%)

Test conditions of cleaning validation was designed under static condition .Temperature less (25 ◦C), and Humidity (60%) was maintained in sampling areas during study periods. Swabbing technique was used for sampling and membrane filter test method was used for detection of microbial load on equipments included in the study.

3.2: Materials Used under study

 Materials and Manufacturer

1 Buffered peptone water: Hi Media

2 Soyabean Casein Digest Agar (SCDA):  Hi Media

3 Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA): Hi Media

4 Sterile swab: Hi Media

5 Autoclave: Equitron

6 Bio-safety Cabinet: Thermolab

7 Incubators: Allyone

8 Colony Counter: Lapiz

9.70% IPA: Qualigens

 

3.3: Sampling Procedure

Test areas of 10 × 10 cm² were measured using sterile stencils. The sterile swabs were moistened with sterile water, and samples were collected from two different 100cm² areas of each piece of clean equipment. A total of two swab samples from each equipment were collected using unidirectional movements—first 10 horizontal Strokes followed by 10 vertical strokes—for the determination of total aerobic microbial count and total yeast and mould count. The swabs were placed into separate test tubes containing 10 mL of Buffered peptone water and transported to the microbiology laboratory.

 3.4 Sample analysis and Quality Control

The equipment used during the study was well calibrated. Stencils used for measuring surface area were sterilized in an autoclave at 121 °C and 15 psi for 15 minutes. Soybean Casein Digest Agar was used for the isolation of bacteria, and Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol was used for the isolation of fungi. Growth promotion test and Sterility checks of the swab sticks was performed as per USP<61> (United States Pharmacopoeial Convention) 2025.

Each tube containing the swab sample was shaken for 2-3 minutes.10 ml of the sample solution was individually pipetted into 50 mL of peptone water, mixed thoroughly, and the entire contents were filtered through a membrane filter with a pore size of 0.45 μm. The membrane filter was aseptically transferred onto Soybean Casein Digest Agar (SCDA) using sterile forceps and incubated at 35 °C for 72 hours. For total yeast and mould count, the filter was placed on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with chloramphenicol plates and incubated at 25 °C for 5 days.

 4.0 Result

Table 4:Cleaning Validation Study Result

S.No.

Equipment

TAMC(cfu/100cm2)

(Limit:<100 cfu)

TYMC(cfu/100cm2)

(Limit:<10cfu)

Sampling Location

Result

Sampling Location

Result

Batch1

Batch2

Batch3

Batch1

Batch2

Batch3

1

Wax vessel

 

From the both side of the baffles (Mc-01)

7

1

9

 From the base of the vessel near discharge

(Mc-02)

0

1

0

2

Manufacturing Vessel

A sample from the Teflon flanges attached to the homogenizer

.(MC-03)

10

3

2

A sample from the base of the equipment near the drain pipe (MC-04)

1

0

1

3

Storage Vessel/Paste preparation vessel

Sample from the Base on the other (MC-05)

6

3

2

 Sample from the wall of the vessel (MC-06)

0

1

1

4

 

SS Containers

Wall of the container (MC-07)

20

23

14

Base of the container

(MC-08)

1

0

1

5

SS Jugs

Base of the jugs (MC-09)

10

12

8

Base of the jugs (MC-10)

0

1

0

6

Semi- Automatic Tube Filling Machine

Inner surface of hopper (MC-11)

5

11

5

Surface of the stirrer (MC-12)

1

0

1

 

Mean value

8.38

 

Mean value

0.55

Standard Deviation

6.08

Standard Deviation

0.511

 

The result of cleaning validation on  Clobetasol 0.05% cream manufacturing equipments in class D manufacturing facility in pharmaceutical Industry shows within the acceptance limit below 100 cfu and 10 cfu respectively for Total aerobic microbial count and Total Yeast and Mould count,  after correcting the contamination variable. The mean value of Total aerobic Microbial count and Total yeast and mould count was found to be 8.33 and 0.55 for all three batches of used equipments respectively. Standard deviation was found to be 6.08 and 0.511, obtained result was not found statistically significant with respect to p- value <0.05.

Discussion

Cleaning Validation studies is an important aspect in pharmaceutical studies to identify and correct potential problems previously unsuspected, which could compromise the safety, efficacy or quality of subsequent batches of drug product produced within the equipment.

 Cleaning validation study on Clobetasol 0.05% cream manufacturing equipments was performed in class D pharmaceutical Facility.The mean valueof  obtained microbial count was found to be 8.33 and 0.55 for all three batches of used equipments respectively) but the obtained data was was not found statistically significant with respect to p- value <0.05.The lower microbial load  on equipments might be proper cleaning procedure, controlled environment , proper fumigation programme and limited assess control in the area. 

References

1.Rao N, Khan A, Khan F,Cleaning validation in pharmaceutical industry, IJRPC 2020, 10(2), 205-214. DOI:

10.33289/IJRPC.10.2.2020.10(39).

·       2.Singh SK, Dutta K , Chaudhary R, Risk Based Study of Sample Spot Fixing for Conducting Environmental Monitoring Test in Classified Areas of Pharmaceutical Industry. Int J of Pharm Sci. 2025;3(2):146-52. [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14793799].

3.Singh SK,  Single –time  point  surface bioburden study at 96  hours dirty hold time study on amlodipine  study amlodipine manufacturing equipment  in Class D Facility (Non –Sterile). Dale View's Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, Vol. 2 l No. 2 l December 2025

4. IPA, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-08-05

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