BioburdenChecker
Bioburden
Bioburden Checker — Microbial enumeration assessment (Ph. Eur. 2.6.12)
ℹ️ The utility verifies that microbial enumeration test results comply with European Pharmacopoeia requirements.
ℹ️ Does not use machine learning — rule-based logic only.
⚠️ For non-sterile products: TAMC ≤100 CFU/g(ml), TYMC ≤10 CFU/g(ml).
Usage:
BioburdenChecker.exe → demo mode (console output)
BioburdenChecker.exe input.csv output.json → evaluate your data
Input format:
ProductName,BatchNumber,ProductType,TAMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml,TYMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml,TestMethod,IncubationConditionsTAMC,IncubationConditionsTYMC
Example:
GlucoseInfusion_5pct,B20260301,NonSterileLiquid,80,10,MembraneFiltration,"30-35°C, 5 days","20-25°C, 5 days"
— WHY IS THIS NEEDED?
Bioburden is a critical quality attribute for non-sterile drug products. Exceeding TAMC (total aerobic microbial count) or TYMC (yeasts and moulds count) limits may:
• Indicate poor manufacturing hygiene,
• Reduce product stability,
• Cause infections in immunocompromised patients.
Compliance with Ph. Eur. 2.6.12 is mandatory for non-sterile drug release.
input.csv
ProductName,BatchNumber,ProductType,TAMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml,TYMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml,TestMethod,IncubationConditionsTAMC,IncubationConditionsTYMC GlucoseInfusion_5pct,B20260301,NonSterileLiquid,80,10,MembraneFiltration,"30-35�C, 5 days","20-25�C, 5 days"
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.
1. Scope
The Bioburden Checker utility is used for Bioburden. 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: EAEU pharmacopoeia, Sterile liquids
Tags: contrast media, dialysis, dissolution, EAEU, endotoxins, herbal, impurities, infusions, microbiology, pharmacopoeia, specification, sterile products, sterility, WFI
2. Execution modes
BioburdenChecker.exe → demo mode (console output) BioburdenChecker.exe input.csv output.json → evaluate your data
3. Key controlled areas
- dissolution / disintegration
- microbiology and pathogens
- pH and physicochemical parameters
4. Domain limits and critical parameters
- ⚠️ For non-sterile products: TAMC ≤100 CFU/g(ml), TYMC ≤10 CFU/g(ml).
5. URS — user requirements
| ID | Requirement | Criticality | Acceptance criterion |
|---|---|---|---|
| URS-001 | The system shall accept an input.csv file for Bioburden 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: dissolution / disintegration, 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 | ProductName | identifier | as specified | Product Name | GlucoseInfusion_5pct | mandatory value; format and acceptability are checked by the utility |
| 2 | BatchNumber | identifier | as specified | Batch Number | B20260301 | mandatory field; used for batch/lot traceability |
| 3 | ProductType | text | as specified | Product Type | NonSterileLiquid | mandatory value; format and acceptability are checked by the utility |
| 4 | TAMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml | decimal | CFU | TAMC CFU per g or ml | 80 | numeric value; compared with microbiological limits |
| 5 | TYMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml | decimal | CFU | TYMC CFU per g or ml | 10 | numeric value; compared with microbiological limits |
| 6 | TestMethod | text | as specified | Test Method | MembraneFiltration | mandatory value; format and acceptability are checked by the utility |
| 7 | IncubationConditionsTAMC | text | as specified | Incubation Conditions TAMC | 30-35�C, 5 days | numeric value; compared with microbiological limits |
| 8 | IncubationConditionsTYMC | text | as specified | Incubation Conditions TYMC | 20-25�C, 5 days | numeric value; compared with microbiological limits |
CSV example
ProductName,BatchNumber,ProductType,TAMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml,TYMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml,TestMethod,IncubationConditionsTAMC,IncubationConditionsTYMC GlucoseInfusion_5pct,B20260301,NonSterileLiquid,80,10,MembraneFiltration,"30-35�C, 5 days","20-25�C, 5 days"
7. FS — functional specification
| ID | Function | Implementation description |
|---|---|---|
| FS-001 | CLI entry point | The executable BioburdenChecker.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 Bioburden, 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": "BioburdenChecker",
"api": "Bioburden",
"batchNumber": "B20260301",
"overallStatus": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"checkedAtUtc": "2026-05-18T00:00:00Z",
"checks": [
{
"parameter": "ProductName",
"value": "GlucoseInfusion_5pct",
"unit": "as specified",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "BatchNumber",
"value": "B20260301",
"unit": "as specified",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "ProductType",
"value": "NonSterileLiquid",
"unit": "as specified",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "TAMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml",
"value": "80",
"unit": "CFU",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "TYMC_CFU_per_g_or_ml",
"value": "10",
"unit": "CFU",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "TestMethod",
"value": "MembraneFiltration",
"unit": "as specified",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "IncubationConditionsTAMC",
"value": "30-35�C, 5 days",
"unit": "as specified",
"status": "PASS|WARNING|FAIL",
"message": "Rule-based check result"
},
{
"parameter": "IncubationConditionsTYMC",
"value": "20-25�C, 5 days",
"unit": "as specified",
"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.
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