Enhancing Speed and Labor Efficiency
In Pharmaceutical Testing with JetX
Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry continuously seeks ways to streamline quality control processes, particularly in assay testing and content uniformity evaluations. JetX™, an advanced automated sample preparation system, by SOTAX AG offers a transformative approach that drastically reduces labor time, increases throughput, and ensures data integrity. This article presents a comparative analysis of JetX versus traditional manual methods across multiple pharmaceutical products, demonstrating significant time and labor savings while maintaining analytical precision. The role of automation in simplifying workflows, reducing training demands, and enhancing data management capabilities is also discussed.
Introduction
Pharmaceutical laboratories are under constant pressure to improve efficiency without compromising accuracy. Traditional sample preparation methods for assay and content uniformity testing are labor-intensive, requiring extensive manual handling, meticulous documentation, and careful process execution. These conventional processes are slow, prone to variability, and difficult to standardize across different operators.
JetX (fig. 1) addresses these challenges by fully automating sample preparation, reducing human error, improving workflow consistency, and significantly cutting down time-to-result. This article explores JetX™’s impact on speed, labor reduction, and data handling while comparing its performance with manual methods across a variety of pharmaceutical products.
JetX: A New Era in Sample Preparation
JetX is designed with 3 core principles:
Simple, Simultaneous Extractions – The system can process up to 30 samples in a single run, significantly increasing throughput.
Scalable Automation – JetX supports both development-scale and high-volume production needs, adapting seamlessly to different laboratory requirements.
AutoDI™ (Automated Data Integrity) – All preparation steps are recorded securely, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Unlike manual methods, which require multiple steps such as weighing, sonication, filtration, and dilution, JetX consolidates these operations into a seamless automated workflow.
Speed and Labor Reduction: A Comparative Analysis
A direct comparison between manual sample preparation and JetX was conducted using various pharmaceutical products, incl. tablets, capsules, and powders (tab. 1). The performance metrics evaluated included total time to completion, hands-on labor time, and precision (measured as % RSD).
Product | Method | % Label Claim | % RSD | Time to Complete (min) | Hands-on Time (min) |
Jet-Alert (Caffeine Tablet) | Manual | 100.7 | 2.4 | 120 | 60 |
JetX | 100.6 | 2.7 | 30 | 10 | |
Partner Product A (Coated Tablet) | Manual | 102.0 | 1.8 | 75 | 55 |
JetX | 101.0 | 0.8 | 25 | 8 | |
Partner Product B (Capsule) | Manual | 99.0 | 2.8 | 185 | 55 |
JetX | 99.0 | 1.8 | 25 | 8 | |
Partner Product C (Tablet Assay) | Manual | 99.0 | - | 75 | 35 |
JetX | 100.0 | - | 25 | 5 | |
Partner Product D (Powder) | Manual | 101.0 | 1.8 | 95 | 75 |
JetX | 101.0 | 0.8 | 25 | 15 |
Table 1: Case study results between manual sample preparation and JetX.
Key Findings
JetX reduced total preparation time by 67 % to 86 % across different products.
Hands-on labor time was cut by 80 % to85 %, allowing analysts to focus on higher-value tasks.
Precision (% RSD) remained equivalent or improved slightly, demonstrating the reliability of JetX’s automated process.
These results underscore the advantages of automation, particularly for high-throughput laboratories seeking to maximize efficiency without compromising analytical quality.
Role of Automation in Reducing Complexity and Training Times
One of the major challenges in pharmaceutical testing is the complexity of manual preparation methods, which require extensive analyst training and procedural consistency to maintain accuracy.
JetX addresses these issues by providing:
User-Friendly Interface – The JetPilot™ touchscreen interface simplifies method setup and execution, reducing training times for new users.
Pre-Programmed Methods – Operators can quickly select validated methods, minimizing procedural variations.
Self-Cleaning Mechanism – The system automates cleaning and reduces cross-contamination risks, further simplifying operations.
By eliminating cumbersome manual steps, JetX enhances reproducibility and ensures consistent sample preparation across different analysts and laboratory locations.
Data Handling and Regulatory Compliance
With increasing regulatory scrutiny over data integrity, pharmaceutical laboratories must ensure complete traceability in sample preparation. JetX’s AutoDI feature provides:
Automated Record Keeping – Secure logging of all preparation steps ensures compliance with 21 CFR Part 11.
Seamless Integration – JetX can interface with LIMS, Waters Empower CDS, and q-doc®, enabling real-time data transfer.
Audit-Ready Reports – Test run details, incl. timestamps and user actions, are available in structured formats for regulatory submission.
These features eliminate transcription errors and reduce compliance risks, making data management more efficient and reliable.
Conclusion
The implementation of JetX in pharmaceutical laboratories presents a game-changing shift in sample preparation for assay and content uniformity testing. By automating traditionally labor-intensive tasks, JetX significantly reduces preparation time, improves throughput, and enhances data integrity.
Key Takeaways
4x Faster Processing – JetX enables high-throughput testing with minimal manual intervention.
80 % Labor Time Reduction – Analysts can focus on critical tasks rather than repetitive manual work.
Automated Data Handling – Ensures regulatory compliance and traceability.
Simplified Training and Workflow – Reduces the complexity of sample preparation, making it accessible to a broader user base.
In an industry where speed and accuracy are paramount, JetX is poised to become a standard solution for pharmaceutical laboratories seeking to optimize efficiency while maintaining rigorous quality control standards.
Further information:
SOTAX AG
Nordring 1, 4147 Aesch, Switzerland
www.sotax.com
Additional information about JetX can be found at:
https://www.sotax.com/sample_preparation/jetx/multiflow