Labeling is a major industry in the United States, interesting enough that one labeling process is a part of the chemical industry. While there are labeling processes available for some areas like food packaging and others where sealing and protection is required, carbon labeling is a very effective option for some like the pharmaceutical industry of which our nation owns almost half the global market. We are also the largest producer of chemical products in the world, hiring over 800,000 in the many different areas of this industry, most predominantly pharmaceuticals. And for that reason, we have a great need for radiolabeling for these products before distribution.
Radiolabeling
Many benefits come from exist for 14C labeling, or radiolabeling, especially from the specific materials that create the labels and the products it is used to label and package. This labeling approach sensitively assesses recrystallization rates of biogenic carbonate such as shell carbonate, within a reasonably short time period. Radiolabeling is a very useful tool to examine the effects of individual factors on shell carbonate recrystallization.
Materials or Chemicals Included in Radiolabeling
Carbon-14, 14C, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive carbon isotope including an atomic nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. This is the key element or isotope used in radiolabeling, with its presence in organic materials as the basis of the radiocarbon dating method. This was developed in 1946 with Willard Libby as a method used to date archaeological, geological and hydrogeological samples. Even more than scientific dating, these labels are now able to use radiocarbon for the improvement of labeling processes for pharmaceutical and other products.
Various Uses of Radiocarbon
One requirement in labs where radiocarbon is used includes a fume hood. Depending on the many processes that may be used, radiocarbon is able to date objects as old as 62,000 years, with many other processes that help with dating and labeling in various scientific laboratories and even the pharmaceutical industry and other chemical areas. Now, it is important to see all of the different labeling processes that are related to radiocarbon and the effect it has on either protecting products or dating historically relevant materials that have been found throughout the earth. Some of these include the following:
- C14 radiolabeling
- Custom radiolabeling
- GMP 3
- GMP quality assurance
- API GMP
- ICN radiochemicals
While there are many processes that may assist in the development of these materials, there are specific GLP testing laboratories and other locations where 14C labeling or radiolabeling is used. GMP standards and quality control are required in order to keep these processes at a quality level, and ensuring that clean air and everything else passing through these labs should maintain daily processes completed with strength and quality. With all of the radiolabeled compounds that are used, safety, cleanliness, and quality are essential to the work of any and all of these labs.
On top of all of this, the clean room standards of all these labs are also quite important. All locations where radiocarbon is used must be clean and verified by quality assurance in order to make sure that processes are completed accurately. Fume hoods are required for use of these rooms, as well as annual inspection of their quality and air control, along with meeting OSHA standards.
