With World Mental Health Day falling on 10 October 2024, Butterworth Laboratories is embracing the entire month of October as an opportunity to raise awareness and promote well-being among our staff. We understand the importance of mental health and want to ensure all staff feel supported, heard, and equipped with the tools to manage their well-being.

Throughout the month, we will be hearing from our team of dedicated Mental Health First Aiders. These trained individuals are here to provide guidance and support and help point anyone experiencing mental health challenges in the right direction for further assistance.

Over the next four weeks, our Mental Health First Aiders will share their thoughts and advice through various communications, offering practical tips for managing daily stresses and providing a wealth of resources for anyone facing emotional difficulties. They will also be suggesting daily mental well-being activities to help everyone at Butterworth Labs prioritise their mental health and incorporate small moments of self-care into their routine.

In addition to the regular updates and tips, our Mental Health First Aiders have organised a Meet and Greet 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 in the break rooms at both of our buildings. This will be an informal opportunity for staff to pop in, have a chat over a cup of tea or coffee, and get to know the individuals who are available to offer support. Whether it’s to ask a question or simply say hello, all staff are encouraged to attend.

We hope these initiatives help foster a more open and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing mental health. Whether it’s through sharing tips or simply checking in with a colleague, small acts can make a big difference.

Mental health matters every day, not just on World Mental Health Day, and we at Butterworth Laboratories are committed to continuing this conversation and supporting each other’s wellbeing.

Let’s make October a month of awareness, connection, and support. Together, we can create a culture where mental health is prioritised, and wellbeing is a shared goal.

High-performance liquid chromatography can highlight the presence of 16 free amino acids in a sample better than its thin-layer chromatography counterpart.

For decades, the determination of ninhydrin-positive substances (NPS) in amino acids relied on thin-layer chromatography (TLC). However, since 2013, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has progressively replaced TLC in the European Pharmacopoeia due to its superior accuracy and efficiency.

At Butterworth Laboratories, we have adopted HPLC techniques to verify the presence of 16 free amino acids in biological samples, delivering precise and reliable results for our clients.

Our latest white paper delves into this methodology and outlines how our verification process ensures compliance with pharmacopeial standards.

To read the full white paper, click HERE

Following a successful trial last term, Butterworth Labs is set to extend its partnership with Kingston University. Starting in October 2024, students pursuing Chemistry and Pharmaceutical-related degrees will be welcomed to Butterworth Labs’ Teddington site.

During their visit, students will participate in a presentation about the lab’s work, take a guided tour of the facilities, and engage with lab managers in a Q&A session. The visit will also offer students the opportunity to explore potential career paths within the pharmaceutical industry, providing valuable insights into future careers in science.

Cellulose assays that utilise capillary and packed column gas chromatography reduce the risk of out-of-specification results, while also improving the accuracy and quality of the data generated.

At Butterworth Laboratories, gas chromatography (GC) is used for accurate cellulose assays of substances like hypromellose and methylcellulose. The method, aligned with pharmacopoeial standards (USP, PhEur, JP, ChP), provides reliable testing and improved precision for clients.

While capillary columns offer sharper chromatographic results, the packed column method has historically shown better repeatability for certain analytes like methyl iodide. To mitigate risks, BLL has set stricter %RSD limits of NMT 1.0%, ensuring more reliable data and minimising the likelihood of out-of-specification (OOS) results.

To read this white paper, click HERE.

2024 marks an important year for Butterworth Laboratories as this year we celebrate our 50^th Anniversary.  Since 1974, we have grown from a small local business, trading as The Butterworth Microanalytical Consultancy Ltd, into a leading provider of contract analytical chemistry testing. We serve clients around the world with our know-how and exceptional service, becoming known as Butterworth Laboratories Ltd in 1978.

Our journey over the past five decades has been driven by a commitment to quality, collaboration and continuous improvement.  What started with a handful of dedicated employees has flourished into a team of over 80 talented professionals, all working together to uphold our core values of integrity and excellence.

As we celebrate this historic occasion and reflect on our rich legacy, our vision remains clear: to build on our strong reputation and continue providing outstanding services to our valued customers.

On behalf of everyone at Butterworth Laboratories, I would like to thank all of our customers, past and present, for supporting us and being an important part of our story. We look forward to continuing to work with you and providing our excellent  levels of services in the future.

Note: the photo above was from the original laboratories at the 41, High Street site in 1974 and below is the front page of the first brochure.

Excipients play a fundamental role in API delivery, and John Welch, Butterworth’s Associate Director of Business Operations, believes that their testing is key to ensuring the safety of pharmaceutical products

In the pharmaceutical industry, excipients can make up as much as 90% of a drug product, meaning their quality and safety are just as crucial as that of APIs. The misconception that excipients are “inactive” can lead to overlooking potential risks, such as contamination from impurities or recycled solvents.

To read the full article published in Manufacturing Chemist, click here.

As helium supplies face pressure, alternative solutions and regulatory changes drive industry adaptation.

Helium, the second most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen, is produced in stars through nuclear fusion. However, on Earth, helium is relatively scarce. It is primarily generated by the underground radioactive decay of uranium (238 U). Over time, this helium migrates through porous rock formations and eventually escapes into the atmosphere, where it dissipates into space. Due to its physical properties, helium is the only substance that escapes the atmosphere and is lost in space. Because of its inertness, if this were not the case, the concentration of helium in the atmosphere, which is stable at about 5.2 ppm, would constantly rise as the formation of geological helium continued.

To read the full article published in Manufacturing Chemist, click here.

Butterworth Laboratories’ latest article, published on the Pharmaceutical Technology website, explains why the latest guideline is significant in analytical procedure development for pharmaceuticals.

To read the article, click here

At Butterworth Laboratories, we prioritise our employees’ mental health and well-being. As such, we are happy to support Mental Health Awareness Week. As a company, we’ve established a dedicated program to train mental health first aiders who can provide support to individuals facing mental health challenges.

Currently, we have 7 members of staff who have attended the St John’s Ambulance training to qualify as Mental Health First Aiders, where they learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill health and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping themselves safe. 

Our impression and speaking with other exhibitors, it felt as though the number of delegates attending was greater than has been the case since the Pandemic etc. As usual it was good to meet up with clients, regular exhibitors, competitors and old friends and colleagues.

Frank Judge, our Consultant Chemist – Chromatography made his presentation titled: Helium Crisis? on the first morning, which appeared to be well received by the number of delegates speaking to him and asking him about moving from Helium to Hydrogen as a carrier gas in Gas Chromatography. His PowerPoint slides can be downloaded here.

We have signed up to exhibit again next year and, in the meantime, will be at the Making Pharmaceuticals Ireland in September.