Block and Pfizer collaborate on laser spectroscopy technology for cleaning verification

Spectroscopy specialist Block Engineering and pharma giant Pfizer are to collaborate on the development of equipment to verify that vessels used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals have been adequately cleaned, in order to prevent cross-contamination between different products. The project is based on Block's quantum cascade laser spectroscopy in the form of the LaserScan^TM Analyzer, a handheld device that has been used in other industries like defence and environmental monitoring.

The principal aim is to have a real-time, non-contact system for cleaning verification that will give results in minutes, removing the need to take swabs manually for analysis by techniques like HPLC. The technique uses laser spectroscopy in the mid-IR range to identify traces of chemicals from their spectroscopic fingerprints.