LactuloseQualityChecker

Lactulose

API assay biologics biosimilars fixed-dose combinations generics impurities market map

Lactulose Quality Checker — Osmotic Laxative (Ph. Eur., USP)

ℹ️ The utility checks lactulose content, lactose, HMF, osmolality, microbiology.
ℹ️ Does not use machine learning — rule-based logic only.
⚠️ CRITICAL! HMF ≤20 ppm. High osmolality. Strict microbiology!

Usage:
LactuloseQualityChecker.exe → demo mode
LactuloseQualityChecker.exe input.csv output.json → evaluate data

Input format:
BatchNumber,Lactulose_Content_Percent,Lactose_Content_Percent,Epilactose_Content_Percent,HMF_ppm,Other_Sugars_Percent,Total_Impurities_Percent,pH_Value,Osmolality_mOsm_kg,Refractive_Index,Density_g_ml,Microbial_Count_TAMC,Microbial_Count_TYMC,EColi_Detected,Salmonella_Detected,Enterobacteria_Count

Example:
LAC-SIR-2026-001,99.0,5.0,2.0,5.0,3.0,10.0,5.5,3000,1.34,1.3,20,5,0,0,0

— WHY IS THIS NEEDED?
Lactulose — synthetic disaccharide derived from lactose:
• Used as osmotic laxative and prebiotic. Efficacy directly depends on high osmolality.
• Produced by alkaline isomerization of lactose, thus contains impurities: lactose, epilactose, fructose, galactose.
• HMF (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural) forms during thermal degradation of sugars. Toxic, strictly limited.
• High sugar content makes syrup favorable for microorganisms, so microbiological control is strict.
⚠️ CRITICAL:
• Lactulose Content: 95–105% of label claim
• Lactose: ≤ 10.0% (main synthesis impurity)
• HMF: ≤ 20.0 ppm (toxicity)
• Osmolality: 2500–3500 mOsm/kg (critical for osmotic effect)
• pH: 3.0–7.0
• Microbiology: TAMC ≤ 100 CFU/mL, Enterobacteria ≤ 10 CFU/mL
• Absence of E.Coli and Salmonella
⚠️ Note: Utility focuses on lactulose synthesis specifics (lactose and epimer control) and safety (HMF). High osmolality is key efficacy parameter: if below norm, drug will not work as laxative. Microbiological limits stricter than for usual tablets due to high water and sugar content.

input.csv

BatchNumber,Lactulose_Content_Percent,Lactose_Content_Percent,Epilactose_Content_Percent,HMF_ppm,Other_Sugars_Percent,Total_Impurities_Percent,pH_Value,Osmolality_mOsm_kg,Refractive_Index,Density_g_ml,Microbial_Count_TAMC,Microbial_Count_TYMC,EColi_Detected,Salmonella_Detected,Enterobacteria_Count
LAC-SIR-2026-001,99.0,5.0,2.0,5.0,3.0,10.0,5.5,3000,1.34,1.3,20,5,0,0,0

URS & FS — user requirements and functional specification

This document defines user requirements and functional specification for the quality-control utility. It supports deployment discussion, IQ/OQ preparation and QC workflow integration.

Utility: LactuloseQualityCheckerAPI / object: LactuloseCategory: Global API

1. Scope

The Lactulose Quality Checker utility is used for Lactulose. The actual input.csv is the source of truth for the input structure; control criteria are defined by the executable and the domain description.

The utility does not use machine learning; decisions are produced by deterministic rules.

Categories: Global API

Tags: API, assay, biologics, biosimilars, fixed-dose combinations, generics, impurities, market map, microbiology, solid dosage, water quality

2. Execution modes

LactuloseQualityChecker.exe                            → demo mode
LactuloseQualityChecker.exe input.csv output.json      → evaluate data

3. Key controlled areas

assay / content
microbiology and pathogens
pH and physicochemical parameters

4. Domain limits and critical parameters

⚠️ CRITICAL! HMF ≤20 ppm. High osmolality. Strict microbiology!
⚠️ CRITICAL:
Lactulose Content: 95–105% of label claim
Lactose: ≤ 10.0% (main synthesis impurity)
HMF: ≤ 20.0 ppm (toxicity)
Osmolality: 2500–3500 mOsm/kg (critical for osmotic effect)
pH: 3.0–7.0
Microbiology: TAMC ≤ 100 CFU/mL, Enterobacteria ≤ 10 CFU/mL
Absence of E.Coli and Salmonella
⚠️ Note: Utility focuses on lactulose synthesis specifics (lactose and epimer control) and safety (HMF). High osmolality is key efficacy parameter: if below norm, drug will not work as laxative. Microbiological limits stricter than for usual tablets due to high water and sugar content.

Limits stated in the description must be verified against the current approved specification, pharmacopoeial monograph and registration dossier before production use.

5. URS — user requirements

ID	Requirement	Criticality	Acceptance criterion
URS-001	The system shall accept an `input.csv` file for Lactulose with the exact columns listed in the “Input data contract” section.	High	A file with the correct header is processed without manual editing; missing mandatory columns produce FAIL/import error.
URS-002	The system shall support execution without arguments in demo mode and execution with `input.csv output.json` for user data.	Medium	Both execution scenarios produce a predictable result or clear diagnostic error.
URS-003	The system shall perform rule-based controls for: assay / content, microbiology and pathogens, pH and physicochemical parameters.	High	Each controlled parameter receives a status and message; the result does not depend on hidden Excel formulas or ML.
URS-004	The system shall preserve traceability between batch/lot, source values, applied rules and final verdict.	High	Output includes batch identifier, source values, parameter statuses and critical findings.
URS-005	The system shall generate machine-readable `output.json` for LIMS/ELN/MES, batch record and QA/QC review.	High	JSON contains overall status, check array, warnings, failures and source-file reference.
URS-006	The system shall support use in the client validation package: URS/FS, IQ/OQ preparation, installation and operational scenario checks.	High	The document, test scenarios and reproducible CSV/JSON flow are suitable for audit and internal approval.
URS-007	The system shall clearly separate technical data errors from specification nonconformities.	Medium	Schema/type errors are not mixed with pharmacopoeial deviations and are reported separately.

6. input.csv data contract

The source of truth for the input schema is the actual input.csv header. Column names are technical identifiers and are not translated.

#	Column	Type	Unit	Description	Sample	Control rule
1	`BatchNumber`	identifier	as specified	Batch Number	`LAC-SIR-2026-001`	mandatory field; used for batch/lot traceability
2	`Lactulose_Content_Percent`	decimal	%	Lactulose Content %	`99.0`	numeric value; compared with assay/purity limit from specification or method
3	`Lactose_Content_Percent`	decimal	%	Lactose Content %	`5.0`	numeric value; compared with assay/purity limit from specification or method
4	`Epilactose_Content_Percent`	decimal	%	Epilactose Content %	`2.0`	numeric value; compared with assay/purity limit from specification or method
5	`HMF_ppm`	decimal	ppm	HMF ppm	`5.0`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
6	`Other_Sugars_Percent`	decimal	%	Other Sugars %	`3.0`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
7	`Total_Impurities_Percent`	decimal	%	Total Impurities %	`10.0`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
8	`pH_Value`	decimal	pH	p H Value	`5.5`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
9	`Osmolality_mOsm_kg`	decimal	mOsm/kg	Osmolality m Osm kg	`3000`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
10	`Refractive_Index`	decimal	as specified	Refractive Index	`1.34`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
11	`Density_g_ml`	decimal	as specified	Density g ml	`1.3`	mandatory numeric value; rule comparison is performed by the utility
12	`Microbial_Count_TAMC`	decimal	as specified	Microbial Count TAMC	`20`	numeric value; compared with microbiological limits
13	`Microbial_Count_TYMC`	decimal	as specified	Microbial Count TYMC	`5`	numeric value; compared with microbiological limits
14	`EColi_Detected`	boolean / flag	0/1	EColi Detected	`0`	valid flag required; prohibited organisms and growth are normally expected as 0 / absent
15	`Salmonella_Detected`	boolean / flag	0/1	Salmonella Detected	`0`	valid flag required; prohibited organisms and growth are normally expected as 0 / absent
16	`Enterobacteria_Count`	decimal	as specified	Enterobacteria Count	`0`	numeric value; compared with microbiological limits

CSV example

BatchNumber,Lactulose_Content_Percent,Lactose_Content_Percent,Epilactose_Content_Percent,HMF_ppm,Other_Sugars_Percent,Total_Impurities_Percent,pH_Value,Osmolality_mOsm_kg,Refractive_Index,Density_g_ml,Microbial_Count_TAMC,Microbial_Count_TYMC,EColi_Detected,Salmonella_Detected,Enterobacteria_Count
LAC-SIR-2026-001,99.0,5.0,2.0,5.0,3.0,10.0,5.5,3000,1.34,1.3,20,5,0,0,0

7. FS — functional specification

ID	Function	Implementation description
FS-001	CLI entry point	The executable `LactuloseQualityChecker.exe` supports demo mode and `input.csv output.json` processing mode.
FS-002	CSV parser	The import module reads CSV, validates header, column presence/order, value count and encoding. Decimal values are expected with a dot separator.
FS-003	Field conversion	Each column is converted to the expected type: identifier, text, decimal number, date/time or boolean flag.
FS-004	Domain rule engine	For Lactulose, explicit rules are applied: range, minimum, maximum, absence of prohibited flag, data completeness or calculation-based check.
FS-005	Criticality handling	Critical violations produce FAIL; non-critical deviations and incomplete data produce WARNING; full conformance produces PASS.
FS-006	JSON writer	`output.json` stores overall status, per-parameter results, source values, warnings, failures and diagnostic messages.
FS-007	Integration contract	The CSV → JSON format is stable for invocation from LIMS/ELN/MES, scheduled task or wrapper service.
FS-008	Error handling	Schema error, missing file, non-numeric value or JSON write failure returns diagnosable error without silent PASS.

8. output.json contract

The output file must be suitable for automated processing, audit review and correlation with the source input.csv row.

{
  "utility": "LactuloseQualityChecker",
  "api": "Lactulose",
  "batchNumber": "LAC-SIR-2026-001",
  "overallStatus": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
  "checkedAtUtc": "2026-05-18T00:00:00Z",
  "checks": [
    {
      "parameter": "BatchNumber",
      "value": "LAC-SIR-2026-001",
      "unit": "as specified",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "Lactulose_Content_Percent",
      "value": "99.0",
      "unit": "%",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "Lactose_Content_Percent",
      "value": "5.0",
      "unit": "%",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "Epilactose_Content_Percent",
      "value": "2.0",
      "unit": "%",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "HMF_ppm",
      "value": "5.0",
      "unit": "ppm",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "Other_Sugars_Percent",
      "value": "3.0",
      "unit": "%",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "Total_Impurities_Percent",
      "value": "10.0",
      "unit": "%",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    },
    {
      "parameter": "pH_Value",
      "value": "5.5",
      "unit": "pH",
      "status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
      "message": "Rule-based check result"
    }
  ],
  "criticalFindings": [],
  "sourceFile": "input.csv"
}

9. OQ/PQ test scenarios

ID	Scenario	Expected result
TC-001	Valid CSV with expected header and sample row	All rows are processed; output contains PASS/WARNING/FAIL and parameter-level detail.
TC-002	A mandatory input.csv column is missing	Import is rejected or the row receives FAIL with schema reference.
TC-003	A numeric field contains text or a blank value	Type conversion error is recorded; the result is not hidden as PASS.
TC-004	A parameter is outside specification or critical limit	Critical parameters produce FAIL; non-critical deviations produce WARNING according to the rule.
TC-005	Positive pathogen/microbiological flag or microbiological limit excursion	Critical FAIL is produced with the offending parameter.

10. QA/QC, CSV and change control

Before production use, the client records executable version, checksum, specification/monograph version, test CSV, expected JSON and IQ/OQ results.
Column names must not be changed without updating the validator and test scenarios.
The source CSV, output.json and utility version should be stored together as an evidence package.
Any change in control rules must go through change control and repeated OQ scenario verification.

Included in packages

Algeria: national essential medicines QC package

QC utility package aligned with the country essential/reimbursed medicines list analogue and cross-checked against WHO EML. Only utilities already present in the portal are included; the package is a validation/discussion starting map, not an official registry copy.

LactuloseQualityChecker

input.csv

1. Scope

2. Execution modes

3. Key controlled areas

4. Domain limits and critical parameters

5. URS — user requirements

6. input.csv data contract

CSV example

7. FS — functional specification

8. output.json contract

9. OQ/PQ test scenarios

10. QA/QC, CSV and change control

Included in packages

Algeria: national essential medicines QC package

Argentina: national essential medicines QC package

Australia: national essential medicines QC package

Bangladesh: national essential medicines QC package

Brazil: national essential medicines QC package

Canada: national essential medicines QC package

China: national essential medicines QC package

Colombia: national essential medicines QC package

Democratic Republic of the Congo: national essential medicines QC package

Egypt: national essential medicines QC package

Ethiopia: national essential medicines QC package

France: national essential medicines QC package

Gastroenterology QC Suite

Germany: national essential medicines QC package

Global API & Biosimilars QC Suite

India: national essential medicines QC package

Indonesia: national essential medicines QC package

Iran: national essential medicines QC package

Italy: national essential medicines QC package

Japan: national essential medicines QC package

Kenya: national essential medicines QC package

Mexico: national essential medicines QC package

Myanmar: national essential medicines QC package

Nigeria: national essential medicines QC package

Pakistan: national essential medicines QC package

Philippines: national essential medicines QC package

Russia: national essential medicines QC package

Saudi Arabia: national essential medicines QC package

South Africa: national essential medicines QC package

South Korea: national essential medicines QC package

Sudan: national essential medicines QC package

Tanzania: national essential medicines QC package

Thailand: national essential medicines QC package

Turkey: national essential medicines QC package

Uganda: national essential medicines QC package

United Kingdom: national essential medicines QC package

United States: national essential medicines QC package

Vietnam: national essential medicines QC package