Recently on ChemClarity, there have been various tests done on Orals from various labs that have come back very varied. Even on the Same lab, Same Batch!
One Labs results came back on Anavar being over 50mg per tablet, yet on another tablet made from the same batch, the result was very different at just 8mg per tablet!
Something doesn’t add up. Either Chemclarity are failing at there end with equipment calibration OR Procedures to ensure accurate dosing on all tablets is not being followed by the UGLs.

This topic is to address the way Tablets are pressed and look at the possibility of a failed system at the UGL’s side in one of the many steps needed to be taken in order to ensure consistency within every tablet created.
We are not saying the UGL in question with the above results is failing in its procedures, but we can look at the procedure that needs to be followed anyway, as it could help other UGLs  who may not be following the correct protocol.

So what are the steps that are needed to be taken to ensure correct Tablet Pressing.

Step 1 – Particle Size Reduction of the Active Ingredient, eg the Raw.
Lets take for example Oxandrolone.
Anyone that has seen Good Quality Oxandrolone will know its texture is very different to that of say, for example, Methandienone.
It is almost crystal like, very grainy, and a heavy particle.
Without intense Milling, Grinding, Crushing, etc.. Those particles will just not mix correctly with the filler used.
Of course, there are machines that will do this process for you, but how many of the UGL’s are using these machines..
If one was to skip through, or even incomplete a thorough Particle Reduction, then when the time comes for the mix to fall through the tablet press, without a doubt, the heavier Raw Particles will separate and come together giving some tablets huge dosages and other tablets tiny dosages. This is impossible to avoid without time consuming Particle Size Reduction.

Step 2 – Blending the Raw Powder with the Filler.
Often the filler used can be something simple such as Corn Starch, which does flow very well through a chute on a tablet press. Of course, other agents such as Binders,Glues,lubricants are also often added to aid the process. Whatever the ingredients are, they still need to be blended with the RAW, and blended well! Once again, how can one be sure that the blending has been completed successfully.
Blending powders that are different in particle size is a difficult process and one that needs plenty of time. I would imagine that time for some of the busier UGLs can be an issue as demand exceeds supply. There are machines out there that will blend for you, with some at high cost, but they will ensure the process is completed correctly. Bin Blenders seem to be more popular nowadays, but small UGLs wont be holding these I’m sure.

Step 3 – Dosage accuracy based on Underdosed Raws.
How many UGLs are allowing for the fact that the chances of there Raw powder being under-dosed are extremely high, and thus allowing for this when making there orals. For example, If you are buying Oxandrolone Raw Powder, which is 80% pure, and you do not allow for the loss in purity, then all your Oxandrolone 50mg tablets are immediately 20% lower in dosage. eg 40mg Anavar.
Quality of Raws of course is always the number one factor for a good UGL, and whilst testing Raws is not always feasible, certainly accepting that a 10% loss in purity is likely would certainly push the dosage up towards a more accurate one. There are companies in China selling powders to the UK with purity as low at 50%.. The UGLs buying these powders are likely buying to save money because the cost is much lower than the quality suppliers, and then if that same UGL is not dosing as he should be, eg, thinks he is putting out a 40mg VAR instead of a 50mg VAR, AND hasn’t allowed for the fact that the purity is only 50%, then you have on the market an advertised 50MG Var which is infact only 20mg..

I was asked about Capsules recently in comparison to Tablets. Which is the best. I personally don’t see a difference with either. Capsules will not contain the same ingredients that are needed to keep tablets together, eg the binder, glues, lubricants, and will instead only require a filler and the active ingredient. Providing the Grinding, Blending and Dosing Protocol above is followed, then Capsules would be just as good,if not better than pressed tablets due to the loss of the extra additives within tablets.

What are the extra additives within Tablets?
In order for tablets to stay compressed and solid, especially when high dosages of Raw ingredients are used, they will need Exipients, in the form of Binders to keep them together, as well as lubricants to ensure they freely fall for the Tablet Press machine. These ingredients are often very different, but some of the more common ingredients are listed below.
Saccharides
sucrose, lactose
starches,
cellulose or modified cellulose such as microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose ethers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC);
Xylitol, sorbitol or maltitol;
polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol
magnesium carbonate
vegetable stearin,
magnesium stearate
stearic acid