Comprehensive Testing Solutions for Medicines, Medical Devices & Consumer Health Products

Pharmaceutical and health-care product testing is the scientific evaluation of medicines, medical devices, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and disinfectants to ensure they meet required standards of safety, quality, and efficacy before reaching consumers.

At METS Lab, Doha, our ISO/IEC 17025-accredited facility provides chemical and microbiological testing for pharmaceutical and health-care products, ensuring compliance with Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) requirements.

Every test we conduct supports one goal — to protect public health by ensuring every product performs as intended and is safe for use.

Scope of Pharmaceutical & Health-Care Product Testing

The testing scope includes all categories regulated under MoPH and GSO, ensuring product safety and regulatory acceptance for import, distribution, and sale within Qatar.

Pharmaceutical Products

Testing of medicines to confirm identity, purity, potency, and stability per pharmacopoeial standards (USP, BP, EP, IP).

Health-Care Products

As per MoPH classification, the “health-care products” category includes:

• Medical devices & equipment


• Dietary supplements & nutraceuticals


• Cosmetics and personal-care products


• Disinfectants and sanitizers


• Over-the-counter health aids


• Topical non-medicinal preparations (creams, gels, ointments)

Each product type is subject to analytical evaluation and certification prior to MoPH approval.

1. Pharmaceutical Testing — Ensuring Drug Quality and Efficacy

Purpose and Significance

Pharmaceutical testing is a cornerstone of drug quality assurance, ensuring that medicines are safe, effective, pure, and stable throughout their shelf life.

Testing is conducted using advanced instruments such as HPLC, GC-MS, ICP-MS, and UV-Vis spectrometers under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and ISO 17025 standards.

Key Testing Parameters:

• Sample Collection – Raw materials, intermediates, and finished products are sampled under controlled conditions.


• Identification Tests – Confirms presence of the correct Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).


• Purity & Impurity Testing – Detects trace contaminants or degradation products.


• Assay (Potency Test) – Determines the accurate quantity of API.


• Stability Testing – Evaluates how drug quality changes under varying temperature, humidity, and light.


• Dissolution / Disintegration Tests – Measures how quickly the active ingredient is released or absorbed.


• Microbiological Testing – Ensures freedom from bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.

2. Pharmaceutical Product Categories Tested

A. Solid Dosage Forms

Includes tablets, capsules, powders, and granules.

Tests Performed:

• Hardness, friability, and disintegration
• Dissolution rate and uniformity
• Weight variation and potency assay
• Particle size, moisture content, and stability

Equipment Used:

• Dissolution & Disintegration Testers (USP/EP compliant)


• Tablet Hardness and Friability Testers


• Powder Flow and Granulation Analyzers

B. Liquid Dosage Forms

Includes syrups, suspensions, and injectable formulations.

Tests Performed:

• pH, viscosity, and stability
• Uniformity and sedimentation rate
• Sterility and endotoxin detection
• Pyrogen and particulate matter testing

Equipment Used:

• Viscometers & pH Meters


• HPLC, GC-MS for impurity profiling


• Sterility and Microbial Limit Test Systems

C. Packaging and Container Integrity

Ensures that pharmaceutical packaging maintains sterility, prevents contamination, and preserves drug stability.

Tests Include:

• Leakage and seal integrity testing (vials, syringes, blister packs)
• Mechanical and visual integrity analysis
• Compatibility testing for container-drug interactions

D. Stability & Environmental Testing

Simulates long-term and accelerated storage conditions to evaluate drug stability under temperature, humidity, and light exposure.

Equipment Used:

• Stability Chambers & Environmental Testing Systems
• Aging Test Equipment for Packaging

3. Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals Testing

Purpose:

Ensure that nutritional and functional products meet label claims and contain no undeclared or harmful substances.

Tests Include:

• Active ingredient quantification


• Heavy metals detection (Pb, Cd, Hg, As)


• Microbial contamination analysis


• Shelf-life and stability testing


• Detection of banned or undeclared substances

Required Documentation:

• Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
• GMP Certificate of manufacturing site
• Local or foreign laboratory test reports

MoPH-approved laboratories may retest imported supplements to verify authenticity and labeling accuracy.

4. Cosmetics and Personal-Care Products Testing

Regulatory Framework:

Governed by MoPH “Cosmetic Products Regulation” aligned with GSO 1943:2016 and GCC safety standards.

Tests Include:

• Microbiological safety testing
• Heavy metals and chemical contaminants (Hg, Pb, As, Cd)
• Screening for banned ingredients (hydroquinone, corticosteroids, mercury)
• pH, stability, and preservative efficacy testing

Import Requirement:

Imported cosmetics must be supported by a Product Safety Assessment and accredited laboratory test reports.

The MoPH may request random verification testing for imported or locally manufactured batches.

5. Disinfectants and Health-Care Products Testing

Testing ensures disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and topical antiseptics comply with efficacy, stability, and labeling standards.

Tests Include:

• Active ingredient assay (e.g., ethanol, isopropanol, chlorhexidine)
• Antimicrobial efficacy testing (bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal)
• pH and stability testing
• Toxic residue screening

Regulatory Reference:

Aligned with MoPH guidelines, GSO 1814/2013, and ISO 17025 quality systems.

6. Analytical Instruments and Capabilities

Our laboratory uses state-of-the-art instruments to deliver precise and reproducible results:

7. Why Choose METS Laboratories

• ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Laboratory recognized by Qatar MoPH


• Comprehensive Testing for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and disinfectants


• Advanced Instrumentation (HPLC, GC-MS, ICP-MS, UV/Vis)


• Expert Analytical and Microbiological Teams


• Fast Turnaround and Traceable Digital Reports


• Regulatory Compliance with GSO, WHO, and ICH Guidelines

8. Ensuring Public Health Through Scientific Excellence

At METS Lab, we uphold Qatar’s vision for safe, effective, and high-quality health products by providing internationally recognized testing and certification services.

Whether it’s a pharmaceutical drug, dietary supplement, or personal-care product, our laboratory ensures full MoPH compliance, GSO conformity, and scientific reliability — protecting consumers and strengthening public trust.