Clients trust the ATS Family of Companies (FoC) to perform packaging seal assessments per the ASTM F1886 testing standard. ASTM F1886 details pass/fail methods for determining the integrity of a package seal — its ability to withstand the environment and mechanical forces without leaking — by evaluating its completeness and uniformity.
Seal integrity is critical for industries subject to stringent cleanliness standards, such as the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. Sufficient testing helps protect the package’s contents from contaminants like external microorganisms, gases, and liquids.
Package and Seal Testing
Our mechanical testing lab holds ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation in many package and seal testing methods. Our qualified personnel have the training and experience to detect seal flaws and produce comprehensive reports on their findings.
ASTM F1886 Testing Procedures
Our experts start by visually inspecting the package seal for integrity. Because this primary stage entails a nondestructive inspection (NDI), they scrutinize the package seal without opening it to identify any existing problems, as doing so would break the seal and introduce flaws.
While prominent defects may be apparent without visual aid, other problems require a closer look. If the package seal appears uncompromised to the naked eye, our experts will use magnification tools and UV light to search for microscopic failures. They readily recognize signs of concern, such as spotty or mottled seals. By following ASTM F1886, our experts can detect channel widths as thin as 75 micrometers (µm).
We inspect packages with at least one transparent side for an unobstructed view of potential damages, such as:
- Channels
- Cracks
- Foldover
- Oversealing
- Pinholes
- Seal creep
- Seal rupture
- Tears
- Undersealed areas
- Unsealed parts
- Wrinkles
Benefits of Visual Inspections
The types of defects found in post-delivery packaging give insight into the various handling processes the product undergoes from manufacturer to patient. For example, damaged manufacturing equipment and adverse environmental conditions can introduce channels during the sealing process. Identifying and resolving manufacturing problems improves the sealing process, empowering manufacturers to maintain consistent product quality. Our technicians perform rigorous visual inspections to verify that the seal can withstand its intended environment, handling, and contents throughout the product’s lifecycle.
Related Services
We offer a variety of related services in addition to visual inspection of packaging seals. Our experts can also evaluate packages and containers using mechanical, environmental, and nondestructive testing methods, including:
- Accelerated Aging
- Burst Testing
- Dye Penetration Tests
- High Altitude Testing
About the ATS FoC
The ATS Family of Companies leverages the expertise found throughout our network of testing, inspection, and consulting firms to meet the varied needs of our client base. We prioritize the customer experience by delivering quick turnaround times and documented analysis in accordance with our ISO 9001:2015 registered Quality Management System. We maintain ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation to perform ASTM F1886 and numerous other packaging testing methods, ensuring the quality of our services meets the most stringent industry standards.
Contact Us
Look no further than the ATS FoC for package seal inspections. Call (888) 287-5227 and ask for medical package leak detection from one of our experts. You may also contact us online through the request form on this page.
