| Probabilistic Methods (Subjective) | Deterministic Methods (Objective) | | :--- | :--- | | Dye Ingress (Methylene blue) | Vacuum Decay | | Microbial Immersion/Ingress | High Voltage Leak Detection (HVLD) | | Bubble Emission | Pressure Decay | | Results vary based on operator skill and time. | Advantage: Repeatable, quantifiable, automatable. |
Approximately $250 for PDA members, $400+ for non-members (historical price). Check pda.org for current pricing.
PDA has translated many technical reports. Search the official store for “TR 27 Chinese” or contact PDA Asia Pacific.
“TR 27 says dye ingress is dead.” Reality: TR 27 states dye ingress is a “coarse leak test” suitable for quality control sampling, but it is not sensitive enough for small molecule or biologic products that require <1 µm integrity.
“If I have TR 84, I can ignore TR 27.” Reality: No. If your product was validated between 1998 and 2020, your submission likely references TR 27. You must keep a copy for historical reference during audits.