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When it comes to choosing the right container closure system, a significant amount of focus is directed at addressing issues that may be a risk to safety and efficacy of the parenteral drug before it is introduced to a patient. Examples are testing of container closure integrity (CCI) and drug stability. Prior to drug administration by a health care professional, the rubber stopper is pierced with a needle, at least once. Stopper puncture testing also needs to be considered, especially if the closure system will be used in a multi-dose application.

The coring and fragmentation of elastomer components used in containment of parenteral drug products continues to be a challenge. Many factors influence these phenomena, so it is critical that a pharmaceutical manufacturer understands how a vial system will be used, for example: what is the recommended needle gauge; is it single- or multi-dose; could spikes, vial adapters or closed system transfer devices be used. Cores and fragments can be generated by needle penetration of the elastomer components. Cores are formed by the needle cannula cutting the elastomer – ordinarily they are cylindrical. Fragments are formed via an abrasion phenomenon of the needle penetration – shapes are irregular.