Accepted answer
Sampling plans exist precisely because testing everything is expensive, and they define the statistical relationship between sample size and lot-wide inference.
A statement that "lot 20260412 complies with specifications" is meaningless without stating which vials from the lot were tested and how many there were.
Mass shifts and what they usually mean
| Δ mass (Da) | Most likely cause | Distinguishing feature |
|---|
| +1 | Deamidation (Asn or Gln) | New peak, slightly earlier retention |
| −17 | Loss of ammonia | Often with deamidation |
| −18 | Dehydration / succinimide | pH-dependent, reversible |
| +16 | Oxidation (Met, Trp) | Earlier retention, light-related |
| −128 | Missing Gln or Lys | Deletion sequence from synthesis |
| 0 | Isomer: racemisation or scrambling | Same mass, shifted retention |
If the lot was manufactured in multiple batches, testing vials from each batch separately establishes whether batch-to-batch variation is acceptable.
Sampling plans for pharmaceutical manufacturing are defined in ISO 2859 and ANSI Z1.4, and they are based on statistical sampling theory.
The caveat is that sampling is a trade-off between cost and confidence, and neither test nor assumption is cost-free.
The practical summary: a lot number without a sampling statement is a lot number without meaning.
3The distinction between purity and content cannot be repeated often enough here. – orla_ferriter 3 months ago add a comment