Microbiological Development and Quality Control Testing Services

Element's microbiology services provide fast, accurate, and compliant testing solutions that maintain your drug products' integrity throughout all development stages. For pharmaceutical manufacturers who demand uncompromising quality and regulatory compliance, our FDA-inspected labs and specialized CLIA-certified microbiology lab provide precise, reliable, and timely analysis from pre-clinical antimicrobial testing to commercial product release. Unlike generic laboratory services, we specialize in pharmaceutical microbiology, offering deep expertise in rapid sterility testing, USP compendial methods, and investigational compound evaluation.

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What are Microbiological Development and Quality Control Testing Services at Element?

Microbiological testing ensures pharmaceutical products remain free from harmful microorganisms that could compromise product safety and efficacy. At Element, we provide comprehensive microbiology testing services that support all phases of your product and process development while maintaining product integrity. Our services help you identify and mitigate contamination risks, particularly crucial for parenteral drugs administered directly into the circulatory system.

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What Can Element Offer You For Microbiological Development and Quality Control Testing Services?

Products we test

We test a wide range of pharmaceutical products with a special focus on high-risk parenteral drugs that are administered directly into the circulatory system. Our experienced scientists work with various dosage forms including injectable and topical formulations. We also evaluate containers, closures, and filtration systems to ensure they maintain sterility throughout your product's lifecycle and prevent microbial contamination.

Key tests offered

Get your products to market quickly and safely with our rapid testing solutions and comprehensive quality control capabilities designed to identify potential contamination issues before they impact your business or regulatory standing. 

Rapid Sterility & Quality Control Testing: 

  • Sterility and rapid sterility testing - Results in as little as 24 hours for mycoplasma, 7 days for sterility testing 
  • Mycoplasma testing - PCR methods with 24-hour turnaround 
  • Microbial examination test method development and validation 
  • Bacterial endotoxin test method validation and testing 
  • Antimicrobial preservative efficacy testing 
  • Particulate matter testing 
  • Container and closure integrity testing 
  • Sterilization cycle development and validation 
  • Batch release and stability testing (both development and commercial batches) 
  • Filter validation bacterial retention studies 
  • Microbiological assays 
  • Special research studies 

Pre-Clinical Microbiology Services (CLIA-Certified Lab):

Generate testing data for your IND submissions and investigational compound development with our CLIA-certified lab services, featuring >500,000 well-characterized isolates. 

  • Antibacterial/Antifungal spectrum and potency testing 
  • Resistance studies and kill-curve methods 
  • Synergy and drug interaction studies 
  • Methods development and quality control studies 
  • Bacteriophage assays and special isolate collections 

Methods and solutions offered

Address your complex microbiology challenges with our tailored approach to method development and validation, ensuring your products meet the highest quality standards throughout their lifecycle. 

Rapid Microbial Methods 

We enable therapeutics and products to be delivered to patients within short shelf-life timeframes. Unlike traditional methods, our Rapid Microbial Methods provide results in as little as 24 hours. We use BacT/ALERT® 3D Dual-T, the first fully automated, growth-based, dual-temperature microbial detection system. Our comparability studies conform to USP <1223>. 

At Element, we work with you to determine which method fits your needs while aligning with your shelf-life schedule. 

Which labs offer this service

Our scientists are experienced across a range of drug products and dosage forms, including parenteral and topical products. We operate under all current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), and our microbiology labs are regularly inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Find your nearest testing location on our Locations Page. 

Standards we test to and materials we test

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!
  • Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
  • FDA regulatory requirements
  • USP <61,><62>, <71>, <72>
  • USP <1223> for rapid method validation
  • USP <1071>
  • CLIA certification standards for pre-clinical testing

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

Microbial Contamination Risks

Our comprehensive testing services detect potentially harmful microorganisms in your products, particularly critical for parenteral drugs administered directly into the circulatory system, helping protect patient safety and your reputation.

Regulatory Compliance Hurdles

Our laboratories operate under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and are regularly inspected by the FDA, ensuring testing of your products throughout development meets all necessary quality and regulatory standards.

Need for Specialized Expertise

Our scientists bring extensive experience across various drug products and dosage forms, including parenteral and topical products, providing you with the specialized knowledge needed for your specific pharmaceutical applications.

Complex Method Development

Our tailored method development and validation services for sterility testing, microbial examination, and bacterial endotoxin testing help you establish reliable processes that ensure consistent quality and regulatory compliance.

Why Choose Element

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Compliance

Our methods have been validated per USP <1223> and align with USP <1071> and USP <72>.

Speed

Element utilizes a Respiration Detection Method for Sterility Testing that has a time-to-result in as little as 7 days. For Mycoplasma testing, results are available using a PCR method that can yield results in as little as 24 hours.

Accuracy

Our Sterility by Respiration Detection method has been validated to detect <10 CFU of organism per test volume.

Reliability

The automated methods utilized in our rapid methods ensure real time detection while upholding data integrity and traceability standards.

24
hours

rapid results for critical testing needs

<10
CFU

detection sensitivity for sterility testing

8,500+
experts

across global locations
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Explore our global network of labs and find your nearest location

VIEW ALL LOCATIONS

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Speak to our team of experts

AMERICAS

Toll free from US lines

+1 888 786 7555

EUROPE

Contact our Central Team
UK

Freephone from UK

+44 808 234 1667

Germany

Freephone from Germany 

+49 800 000 5137

MIDDLE EAST

Toll free from UAE

+971 800 353 6368