Customer Defined Studies
Bespoke non-destructive laboratory studies tailored to your application
A Customer Defined Study is a fully bespoke laboratory service designed for applications that fall outside our predefined laboratory studies.
Unlike standardised services, our Customer Defined Studies do not follow a fixed protocol. Instead, each study is individually designed in collaboration with the customer to address specific technical questions, development challenges, or investigation needs. The study structure, measurement parameters, sample selection, and reporting depth are all adapted to the customer situation.
This service is intended for cases where predefined standard offerings do not fully capture the complexity, scope, or uniqueness of the application. It allows you to obtain targeted, decision-relevant data without compromising on non-destructive testing principles.
When is a Customer Defined Study appropriate?
Customer Defined Studies are typically used when testing requirements are exploratory, non-routine, or highly specific. Some common scenarios include:
- Feasibility studies to determine whether non-destructive headspace analysis is suitable for a new product or packaging format.
- Evaluation of new packaging materials, closures, or container designs.
- Method evaluation or comparison between different testing approaches or parameters.
- Investigation of unexpected headspace gas or pressure behaviour.
- Early-stage development work prior to scaling or validation.
- Comparative testing across multiple suppliers, formats, or process conditions.
- One-off investigations where standard services are not applicable.
In many cases, these studies serve as a foundation for future routine testing, process optimisation, or internal decision-making.
How the study is defined
Each Customer Defined Study is built through a structured collaboration between the customer and Gasporox laboratory specialists. The goal is to ensure that the study design directly supports the intended technical or commercial decision.
Key study inputs
The study definition is based on:
- Product type and formulation
- Packaging format, materials, and closure system
- Study objectives and key questions to be answered
- Measurement parameters of interest
- Sample availability and constraints
- Required depth of analysis and level of reporting detail
These inputs are reviewed jointly to ensure the study is technically feasible, relevant, and aligned with realistic timelines.
Study structure and scope
Based on the defined inputs, Gasporox designs a study that specifies:
- Measurement techniques and equipment
- Sample quantities and selection strategy
- Test conditions and timing
- Data outputs and reporting format
The study scope can range from a focused, limited dataset to a broader investigation involving multiple parameters, sample groups, or test conditions.
Measurement capabilities
Customer Defined Studies leverage our non-destructive headspace analysis and container integrity technologies.
Depending on the study objectives, measurements can include:
- Oxygen concentration
- Carbon dioxide concentration
- Total package pressure
- Partial pressure calculations
- Combined gas and pressure measurements within the same test cycle
Measurements are performed using laser-based techniques that allow sealed packages to be analysed without opening, puncturing, or altering the container.
Non-destructive testing approach
All Customer Defined Studies are based on non-destructive and non-intrusive testing principles.
What this means in practice
- Containers remain sealed and intact throughout testing.
- No consumables such as needles or septa are required.
- Quantitative and repeatable measurement results are generated.
- Samples can be returned to the customer after testing.
This approach is particularly valuable when samples are limited, high value, or required for further testing or commercial use.
Testing location flexibility
Customer Defined Studies can be conducted:
- At Gasporox laboratories
- At customer site, when required by the study design
On-site testing may be appropriate when measurements need to be performed under real production conditions, during specific process steps, or when sample transport is impractical. Our laboratory staff perform on-site studies using the same non-destructive measurement principles and equipment.
Who are Customer Defined Studies for?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers and developers
Food producers and contract manufacturers
Beverage producers and bottlers
Packaging developers and material suppliers
Types of organisations
- Manufacturers with specialised or non-standard testing needs
- Research and development teams
- Laboratories supporting investigation, development, or qualification activities
- Contract manufacturers and packers requiring customised evaluation
Packaging and product types
- Modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) products
- Bottled and sealed containers
- Flexible and rigid packaging formats
- Products with gas sensitive or gas active behaviour
What a Customer Defined Study delivers
The output of a Customer Defined Study is clear, application-specific data that supports informed decision-making. As a part of our Customer Defined Study, you will in addition to what has been agreed upon, receive:
- A written study report describing objectives, study design, and test conditions
- Clearly structured measurement results relevant to the defined scope
- Quantitative data for selected gas and pressure parameters
- Interpretation of results in the context of the agreed study objectives
- Traceable data suitable for technical review and internal documentation
The reporting depth is adapted to the purpose of the study, ranging from concise technical summaries to more detailed datasets for development or investigation work.
Why choose a Customer Defined Study?
Our Customer Defined Studies offer maximum flexibility by allowing applications to be addressed without forcing them into predefined service structures. The testing activities are directly aligned with the your decision-making needs, ensuring that the generated data is relevant and actionable. You gain access to Gasporox headspace analysis expertise without the need for capital investment in equipment or in-house capability. All testing is non-destructive, preserving product value and sample availability, and the service provides a practical bridge between early development work and the transition to routine or standardised testing services.
Technology
The AutoMAP™ Pharma optical gas sensors are built on more than 25 years of development and refinement in industrial laser-based gas measurement. The system uses Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS), a highly reliable and precise method for non-destructive headspace gas analysis.
Developed by Gasporox in collaboration with its technology partners, this laser sensor technology is widely used in demanding industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and energy.
Gasporox’s laser-based headspace analysis has been successfully deployed for over a decade in pharmaceutical manufacturing. It is integrated into fully automated inspection systems and benchtop instruments for 100% in-line and laboratory testing of vials, ampoules, and other parenteral packaging formats. The performance and robustness of the system have been validated through extensive real-world use.