Compressed Air Testing India | ISO 8573 | NABL Accredited
Auriga Research provides NABL-accredited compressed air quality testing for pharmaceutical, food, hospital, and industrial users across India. Our field teams sample compressed air directly at the point of use and test for dew point, oil aerosol content, particulate concentration, and viable microbial counts per the ISO 8573 series of standards.
Periodic testing is required because compressed air picks up contamination from three sources — particulate matter from the ambient air drawn into the compressor, oil and wear products from the compressor itself, and rust, scale, and microbial growth from distribution piping and storage receivers. Unchecked contamination damages downstream equipment, fails GMP audits, and can compromise the safety of the finished product.
Parameters and Methods
Each parameter is mapped to its ISO 8573 sub-part so QA and validation teams can match scope to the required purity class at a glance.
Dew Point
Water vapour content measured by chilled-mirror / digital hygrometer per ISO 8573-3.
Oil Aerosol
Oil aerosol capture on membrane filter with gravimetric / GC-FID quantification per ISO 8573-2.
Total Oil
Total oil content (aerosol + vapour) per ISO 8573-5 for pharma point-of-use compliance.
Particulates
Particle concentration and size-distribution measurement per ISO 8573-4.
Microbial Count
Total viable microbial count plus yeast and mould by impinger / contact plate per ISO 8573-7.
Gaseous Contaminants
CO, CO₂, SO₂, NOx and other gaseous contaminants per ISO 8573-6.
Purity Class
Reporting against ISO 8573-1 purity classes (e.g. Class 1.2.1 for pharma point-of-use).
Sources of Compressed Air Contamination
- Particulates and aerosols from the ambient air drawn into the compressor intake
- Oil mist and wear-metal particles introduced by the compressor itself and from lubricating oils
- Water vapour condensing in receivers and distribution piping
- Rust, scale, and pipe-wall debris from corroded or aged piping
- Microbial growth — bacteria, yeasts, and moulds — proliferating in standing condensate
Who Needs Compressed Air Testing
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers — Schedule M, WHO GMP, EU Annex 1 compliance
- Food and beverage production lines using compressed air for packaging, filling, or product contact
- Hospitals — medical air systems under HTM 02-01 / NABH requirements
- Dairies, breweries, and distilleries
- Cosmetics, nutraceutical, and herbal product manufacturers
- Electronics, semiconductor, and precision cleanroom operations
- Power plants, petroleum refineries, sugar mills, and other heavy industry protecting downstream equipment
- Hotels and large facilities maintaining utility air quality
Sampling and Field Service
Our trained sampling engineers visit the site with calibrated ISO 8573-compliant sampling probes, digital hygrometers, particle counters, and microbial samplers. Samples are drawn at the point of use — typically immediately downstream of the final filter and at product-contact lines. Sampling locations, line pressures, flow rates, ambient conditions, and stabilisation times are documented for each test point.
Turnaround Time
On-site sampling at a single facility typically takes one working day. Dew point and particulate readings are captured in the field; oil aerosol and microbial samples are returned to the laboratory and analysed within 5-7 working days. The complete NABL-accredited compressed air quality report — including ISO 8573 purity class assignment for each test point — is delivered within 10-12 working days of sampling. Expedited reporting is available for urgent audit submissions.