Particles happen.
Visible particles are an inevitable part of drug development and manufacturing, accounting for about ⅓ of commercial injectable product recalls.
When particles happen, we understand that time is critical and nothing is more important than identifying them quickly and accurately to keep your program moving.
Our Forensics-On-Demand™ service was developed to let you move from reacting to particle issues to proactively managing them across your drug pipeline - helping you stay ahead of challenges, reduce delays, and maintain the highest product integrity for your patients.
Operating from our world-class Particle Identification (ID) Laboratory in Basel, Switzerland, we offer expert support across a wide range of sample types and drug modalities. If a material contains particles, we can help.
Listen to our podcast to hear how our Forensic Chemistry experts approach complex particle cases. From everyday medicines to advanced therapies, particle identification plays a crucial role in ensuring product quality and patient safety.
The subscription
Getting started with Forensics-On-Demand is simple - just sign up for an annual subscription and activate your membership. Our team is here to guide you through the process: reach out to get started.
Once you're a member, you can act immediately when particles appear - submit samples for analysis without the need to create or sign a new contract each time. With a simple pay-as-you-go model, billed per sample, you gain both flexibility and efficiency.
Your membership also helps maximize value: each subscription year includes a complimentary sample analysis, along with access to preferential rates for additional investigations.
With Forensics-on-Demand, you gain more than access to a Particle ID Lab - you gain peace of mind, helping safeguard your drug programs and supply chain.
Shipping the sample
Forensics-on-Demand makes submitting samples straightforward. To request an analysis, simply follow these steps:
- Complete the Particle ID Request Form online
- Select your preferred turnaround time from our options
- Ship us your sample upon acknowledgment from Lonza
Turnaround time (TAT) options
| "Standard" TAT | "Urgent" TAT | "Rushed" TAT |
|---|---|---|
| 10 business days | 5 business days | 1 business day for preliminary feedback with full report in 2 business days |
TAT starts once your sample(s) and all required information are received, and ends upon delivery of our analysis report.
Analysis
Upon delivery, your sample will be processed by our expert team, using advanced spectroscopic techniques to characterize visible particles, and SEM/EDX for elemental analysis if needed.
Sample analysis is conducted in our ISO 9001–certified Particle ID Lab where we follow the principles of 6S methodology to streamline operations, reduce waste, and create a safer, more productive work environment.
Our experienced team of subject matter experts leverage Lonza's expanding global defect library database to offer faster and more accurate investigations.
Take a deeper dive
Explore our world-class Particle ID Lab below or dive into our investigation capabilities webinar.
Our report and next steps
You will then receive your analysis report based on the requested turnaround time. For rushed requests, we offer preliminary feedback within one business day, with the full report delivered within two business days.
With your report in hand, you can decide on next steps and take advantage of our co-located offerings at Lonza Drug Product Services (DPS) to keep things moving efficiently.
For example, if the particles are identified as free fatty acids, our Surfactant Group at DPS can run our proprietary lipolytic activity assay on your product. If protein aggregates are found, our Protein Characterization Group can perform protein identification using mass spectrometry, such as peptide mapping.
In some cases, we can also provide consultation to help interpret the results of your particle ID report.
About our Particle ID Lab
Conveniently located within our Biologics Drug Product Center of Excellence in Basel, Switzerland, our Particle ID Lab operates in close proximity to other DP development services, enabling seamless collaboration and faster troubleshooting. When needed, deeper investigations can be facilitated through direct access to specialized expertise across DPS, including for example our Surfactant Group and Protein Characterization Group.
Our Particle ID Lab offers a comprehensive selection of analytical techniques supported by state-of-the-art equipment.
- Light microscopy
- FTIR microscopy and spectroscopy
- Raman microscopy
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
- Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)
- X-ray micro-computed tomography
Additionally, our lab is equipped with a laminar flow workbench and a safety cabinet, enabling the safe handling of highly potent compounds and BSL-2 materials.