Material ID through Dark Brown PV Bag

Importance of the Topic

Rapid, non-destructive material identification through packaging is critical for pharmaceutical quality control, counterfeit detection, and supply chain assurance.
This approach enables on-site testing without opening or contaminating sealed products, ensuring safety and integrity of goods.

Aims and Study Overview

This technical note demonstrates the capability of the NanoRam handheld Raman spectrometer using 785 nm laser excitation to identify active pharmaceutical ingredients through dark brown polyvinyl bags.
Tylenol tablets were analyzed in situ, with the aim of assessing if sufficient Raman signal can be obtained despite absorption and scattering by the opaque packaging.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Instrument: NanoRam handheld Raman analyzer with 785 nm laser source
• Sample packaging: dark brown polyvinyl bag, 0.07 mm thickness
• Test setup: removal of point-and-shoot adaptor, standard shaft placed in contact with bag surface
• Operating parameters: laser power 50 percent to avoid bag damage, minimum hit quality index (HQI) threshold 80, three acquisition hits, spectral range 176 to 2500 cm−1
• Library match: B&W Tek USP spectral library

Defocusing the laser by removing the adaptor reduces localized heating and burning of the bag material.

Key Results and Discussion

The analysis yielded a match to acetaminophen with an HQI of 83.03, confirming successful identification through the dark brown bag.
Overlay of the recorded spectrum and the library reference shows clear Raman features despite lower intensity compared to measurements through transparent packaging.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enables non-invasive verification of pharmaceuticals and other materials without compromising packaging integrity
• Supports rapid field inspections for quality control, regulatory compliance, and counterfeit detection
• Reduces sample preparation time and risk of contamination

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements in handheld Raman instrumentation, including improved detectors and data processing algorithms, will enhance sensitivity for low-intensity signals through various packaging materials.
Expansion to a wider range of colored and multilayer packaging, integration with automated workflows, and real-time cloud-based spectral libraries will broaden application scope.

Conclusion

This study confirms the feasibility of using a 785 nm handheld Raman spectrometer to identify acetaminophen through dark brown polyvinyl bags with reliable match quality, illustrating the value of non-destructive testing in pharmaceutical analysis and quality assurance.