ASTM F2097

This design and evaluation guide describes seven categories for evaluating flexible medical packages and packaging materials. These include safety, barrier properties, durability, package and seal integrity, visibility and appearance, processing, and printing ink properties.

The intent of this design and evaluation guide is to evaluate all seven categories and select those that are applicable. Once the product has been characterized and the sterilization methodology has been defined, there are numerous sets of requirements for any specific package. This design and evaluation guide provides an avenue for assessing these requirements and choosing test methods for both evaluating the package design and monitoring package compliance.

Product characterization shall include mass or weight, geometry (length and width, height, and shape) and product composition.

All seven categories must be considered for applicability.

The Summary of Test Methods for Medical Packaging Design and Evaluation (Fig. 1) provides a compact graphical presentation of the test methods referenced in this guide.

Test Description and Applicability (see Table 1):

Table 1 lists the test methods commonly used to evaluate flexible medical packaging. The test methods are used in two phases.

Package Design: Characterization of the Materials and Evaluation of the Resultant Package—This is referred to as “R&D Evaluation” in Table 1. Testing during this phase is characterized by the generation of quantitative data on the performance of the component materials and the package assembly. These test methods are lengthy, making them inappropriate for the manufacturing environment where rapid response is required for process control. Often, they are expensive and require specialized equipment not readily available at a medical packaging or device manufacturing facility.

Package Compliance: Routine Monitoring of Adherence to Specifications—This is referred to as “Compliance Testing” in Table 1. Testing during this phase must be rapid, inexpensive, and readily implemented in a manufacturing environment. The objective is not to develop design data, but to ensure that the design specifications are being met. These test methods do not necessarily make direct measurements of critical values, but detect variations in material, process, or product that are indicative of all critical characteristics.

It is important to note that no individual test method is entirely predictive of final package performance. Filled packages must be evaluated under conditions of use.

Once the design of the package and/or packaging materials has been determined, it may be appropriate to create a package and/or material specification. Guides F 99 or F 2559 may provide useful guidance.

1. Scope

1.1 This guide provides directions for the design and evaluation of primary flexible packages for medical products. The package materials must be selected appropriately for manufacturing process, end use, and the product being packaged.

1.2 This guide provides a compendium of test methods. Specific individual test methods must be selected based on the pertinent characteristics of the specific product to be packaged and the purpose for testing, research and development, or compliance. Not all test methods will be applicable.

1.3 This guide does not address acceptability criteria, which need to be determined jointly by the package producer and the medical products manufacturer.

1.4 This guide does not assess the product to be packaged; the sterilization method to be used; or package performance through sterilization, distribution, and handling.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

2. Referenced Documents

ASTM Standards
D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics
D1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting
D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film by the Free-Falling Dart Method
D1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile Materials
D1894 Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of Friction of Plastic Film and Sheeting
D1922 Test Method for Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method
D1938 Test Method for Tear-Propagation Resistance (Trouser Tear) of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by a Single-Tear Method
D2019 Test Method for Dirt in Paper and Paperboard
D2457 Test Method for Specular Gloss of Plastic Films and Solid Plastics
D3078 Test Method for Determination of Leaks in Flexible Packaging by Bubble Emission
D3079 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission of Flexible Heat-Sealed Packages for Dry Products
D3335 Test Method for Low Concentrations of Lead, Cadmium, and Cobalt in Paint by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D3420 Test Method for Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastic Film
D3718 Test Method for Low Concentrations of Chromium in Paint by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insulation
D3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
D3985 Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor
D4279 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Shipping Containers--Constant and Cycle Methods
D4321 Test Method for Package Yield of Plastic Film
D4754 Test Method for Two-Sided Liquid Extraction of Plastic Materials Using FDA Migration Cell
D5264 Practice for Abrasion Resistance of Printed Materials by the Sutherland Rub Tester
D589 Test Method for Opacity of Paper (15 Diffuse Illuminant A, 89 % Reflectance Backing and Paper Backing)
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D645/D645M Test Method for Thickness of Paper and Paperboard
D726 Test Method for Resistance of Nonporous Paper to Passage of Air
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
E398 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Sheet Materials Using Dynamic Relative Humidity Measurement
F1140 Test Methods for Internal Pressurization Failure Resistance of Unrestrained Packages
F1249 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor
F1306 Test Method for Slow Rate Penetration Resistance of Flexible Barrier Films and Laminates
F1307 Test Method for Oxygen Transmission Rate Through Dry Packages Using a Coulometric Sensor
F1443 Practice for Using 0.008-in. (0.203-mm) Aperture Reflectometers as Test Instruments for Measuring Visual Image Quality of Business Copy Images
F151 Test Method for Residual Solvents in Flexible Barrier Materials
F1608 Test Method for Microbial Ranking of Porous Packaging Materials (Exposure Chamber Method)
F17 Terminology Relating to Flexible Barrier Packaging
F1884 Test Methods for Determining Residual Solvents in Packaging Materials
F1886 Test Method for Determining Integrity of Seals for Medical Packaging by Visual Inspection
F1921 Test Methods for Hot Seal Strength (Hot Tack) of Thermoplastic Polymers and Blends Comprising the Sealing Surfaces of Flexible Webs
F1927 Test Method for Determination of Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate, Permeability and Permeance at Controlled Relative Humidity Through Barrier Materials Using a Coulometric Detector
F1929 Test Method for Detecting Seal Leaks in Porous Medical Packaging by Dye Penetration
F1980 Guide for Accelerated Aging of Sterile Barrier Systems for Medical Devices
F2029 Practices for Making Heatseals for Determination of Heatsealability of Flexible Webs as Measured by Seal Strength
F2054 Test Method for Burst Testing of Flexible Package Seals Using Internal Air Pressurization Within Restraining Plates
F2095 Test Methods for Pressure Decay Leak Test for Flexible Packages With and Without Restraining Plates
F2096 Test Method for Detecting Gross Leaks in Medical Packaging by Internal Pressurization (Bubble Test)
F2203 Test Method for Linear Measurement Using Precision Steel Rule
F2217 Practice for Coating/Adhesive Weight Determination
F2227 Test Method for Non-Destructive Detection of Leaks in Non-sealed and Empty Medical Packaging Trays by CO2 Tracer Gas Method
F2228 Test Method for Non-Destructive Detection of Leaks in Medical Packaging Which Incorporates Porous Barrier Material by CO2 Tracer Gas Method
F2250 Practice for Evaluation of Chemical Resistance of Printed Inks and Coatings on Flexible Packaging Materials
F2251 Test Method for Thickness Measurement of Flexible Packaging Material
F2252 Practice for Evaluating Ink or Coating Adhesion to Flexible Packaging Materials Using Tape
F2338 Test Method for Nondestructive Detection of Leaks in Packages by Vacuum Decay Method
F2391 Test Method for Measuring Package and Seal Integrity Using Helium as the Tracer Gas
F2475 Guide for Biocompatibility Evaluation of Medical Device Packaging Materials
F2476 Test Method for the Determination of Carbon Dioxide Gas Transmission Rate (Co 2TR) Through Barrier Materials Using An Infrared Detector
F2559 Guide for Writing a Specification for Sterilizable Peel Pouches
F2638 Test Method for Using Aerosol Filtration for Measuring the Performance of Porous Packaging Materials as a Surrogate Microbial Barrier
F372 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Flexible Barrier Materials Using an Infrared Detection Technique
F392 Test Method for Flex Durability of Flexible Barrier Materials
F748 Practice for Selecting Generic Biological Test Methods for Materials and Devices
F813 Practice for Direct Contact Cell Culture Evaluation of Materials for Medical Devices
F88 Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier Materials
F895 Test Method for Agar Diffusion Cell Culture Screening for Cytotoxicity
F904 Test Method for Comparison of Bond Strength or Ply Adhesion of Similar Laminates Made from Flexible Materials
F99 Guide for Writing a Specification for Flexible Barrier Rollstock Materials
EN/ISO Standards
ISO15105–2 Plastics--Film and Sheeting--Determination of Gas Transmission Rate--Part 2: Equal-Pressure Method
Military Specification
Mil Spec 36954C Bacterial Filtration Efficiency
TAPPI Standards
TAPPI T 547 Air Permeance of Paper and Paperboard (Sheffield Method)

Index Terms

Design; Flexible packaging materials; Medical/surgical packaging materials; ICS Number Code 11.020 (Medical sciences and health care facilities in general); 55.020 (Packaging and distibution of goods in general)

Citing ASTM Standards

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