Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
Published on: July 10, 2015
[Quality control of parenteral nutrition compounding: gravimetric and component verification control]
Alejandra Melgarejo Ortuño1, Rosa María Romero Jiménez1, Cristina Ortega Navarro1
1Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM).
Introduction:
Introduction: parenteral nutrition (PN) compounding is a process with a high probability of errors. Objective: to analyze PN compounding errors detected using a gravimetric control (GC) and a component verification control (CVC). Methods: a prospective analysis was carried out during a three-year period (January 2016 to December 2018). The MedicalOne Parenteral® software program was used to calculate the theoretical weight of each PN based on density and volume. Each elaborated PN was weighed to obtain the real weight. Gravimetric error (%) ((real weight - theoretical weight) x 100 / theoretical weight) was considered correct if within the ± 5 % interval. The CVC consisted of checking that the correct ingredients and volumes were added according to the PN order. Results: during the study period a total number of 28,761 PNs were checked out; 20,612 adult PNs (APN) were weighed and 124 were considered incorrect (0.60 %). Of the 1,203 non-neonatal pediatric PNs (NPPN), 15 (1.25 %) were incorrect, and of the 6,946 neonatal PNs (NPN), 164 (2.96 %) were incorrect. Regarding the CVC, 71 errors were detected in the APN (0.70 %), 6 (1.34 %) in the NPPN, and 5 (0.21 %) in the NPN group. The total number of errors included: adding more volume of one component [38 (46.34 %)], adding a wrong component [27 (32.93 %)], and absent volume of one component [17 (20.73 %)]. Conclusions: the quality control carried out allowed to detect errors during the preparation of PNs and prevented them from reaching the patient. More incorrect NPNs were detected through GC. The main error detected with CVC was adding more volume of a component.
Related Concept Videos
Gravimetry: Overview
In precipitation gravimetry, the analyte is converted into a precipitate and weighed. For example, the silver content in a sample can be estimated by precipitating and...
Precipitation Gravimetry
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
Data Validation
Key parameters for method validation include:
In Vitro Drug Dissolution: Compendial Testing Models I
Dose Size and Dosing Frequency: Determination Methods
Clinically Relevant Drug Product Specifications: Methods of Establishment

![Technical Aspect of the Automated Synthesis and Real-Time Kinetic Evaluation of [11C]SNAP-7941](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59557.jpg&w=3840&q=50)