Test Procedure

The leak test apparatus is widely applied in the pharmaceutical industry for checking strips, blisters and bottles containing tablets, capsules, syrups and so on. It also find application in the food industry where it can be effectively used to check the air-tightness of sweet packets, ready-to-eat pre-packed foods, confectionery packaging, packs of noodles, sauces to name but a few. Samples are placed into the desiccator’s housing and the lid is placed in position.

The pump starts to produce a vacuum inside the desiccators and the vacuum is held for a pre-set time. The first issue is that he tested package should keep its shape during this test; otherwise the sealing is not correct. Secondly, as the package is immersed in a colored dye solution (normally Methylene Blue), the venting of the desiccators will allow any holes to be penetrated by the dye and the contents of the flexible packaging will also be stained with the same coloring material. Similarly small bottles can also be tested. A sheet of paper will absorb any leaking fluid.