What is the Gelbo Flex test method?

Gelbo Flex Test

Gelbo Flex Testing is intended to subject a target material to the fatigue of repetitive twisting, crunching, and flexing motions under controlled conditions. The material can then be examined for the presence of any flex cracks or pinholes. To perform a Gelbo test, packaging material is repeatedly twisted and crushed and then evaluated for flex failure. The flexing action performed during the test consists of a twisting motion combined with a horizontal compression motion that provides repetitive strain to test the flex resistance of the flexible barrier material for the entirety of the test. Flex failure is typically determined by the appearance of pinholes or integrity failures in one or more plies of a multi-ply structure, or the breakdown of barrier properties. The commonly used standard for Gelbo flex testing is ASTM F392, though it can vary. The number of cycles in a Gelbo test typically range from cycles (Condition A) down to 20 cycles (Condition E) to simulate everything from full flexing to partial flexing.

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Most of the packaging we validate is required by the FDA to undergo ISO validation tests to make sure the packaging remains sterile during the distribution cycle. However, there are instances that require us to dive in a little deeper and perform tests that are outside our regular scope, and not ISO requirements, for the benefit of the client. One of those tests we will be discussing in this blog is a Gelbo Flex Test.

What is Gelbo Flex Testing?

Gelbo flex testing is a standard per ASTM (ASTM F392: Standard Practice for Conditioning Flexible Barrier Materials for Flex Durability). As mentioned above, gelbo flex testing is not a required method for bringing a medical device to market. Rather, it is used as an R+D (research and development) tool to evaluate the relative ability of one of more materials to withstand repeated flexing.

The goal of this test method is not necessarily to have zero cracks or tears, but more to evaluate the performance of one material versus another and an expectation for there to be cracks to assess. If there are no cracks, the cycle count is likely too low, or the material is a specialized material that refuses to crack. It simulates what the packaging material might endure during transit testing, specifically during the vibration portion.

Medical device packaging material manufacturers perform the gelbo flex test on their packaging materials so medical device manufacturers have and idea at how much stress a specific packaging material can endure during transit testing. They will typically have that spec listed on their material sell sheet. This specification is important to know so you know the materials ability to flex, fold, compress, or compound without cracking.

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How a Gelbo Flex Test is Performed

Material that is a nonporous, flexible film can be used for gelbo flex testing. Typically, this is a clear plastic film that you would see on the on the reverse side of Tyvek pouch or foil material for a foil-to-foil pouch.

The first step is to cut a swatch of film that is about the size of 1 piece of printer paper. Then, the swatch is mounted on the gelbo flex tester by curling the swatch around the two round mandrels.

When we start the gelbo flex tester, one of those mandrels will twist and compress together and then open back up and untwist. This is done repeatedly to simulate the flexing that materials endure during transit testing.

After the film swatch has been stressed, we fix it to a white paper backing. Once the swatch is secured, we essentially paint it with the blue dye we use for seal integrity testing by dye leak ASTM F. If there are any pinholes or flex cracks, the toluidine blue dye will leak through and stain the white paper backing. From there we can observe the crack patterns.

Some variables we might control are number of cycles we expose the materials to. This could range from 250 &#; cycles.

Why PCL Would Use Gelbo Flex Test

Since gelbo flex test is not required validation method to bring a medical device to the market, why would PCL perform this test? The simple answer is that we want to be resource for our customers and help them anyway we can. A few examples of this are:

• Client A has been using X packaging material for the duration of our business relationship and has not had any issues. If that packaging material becomes discontinued or has changed in some way, the client will need to find a new material for their device. In this case, we would offer to run gelbo flex tests on their potential options and provide them with our findings along with which material we would recommend based on the test results.

ASTM F392 Gelbo Flex Test - Packaging Compliance Labs

What is Gelbo Flex Testing? Why is it Needed?