LossonDrying(LOD)isatestmethoddescribedinUSP36Chapter<731>thatdeterminestheamountofvolatilecomponents(suchaswater,solvents,orothervolatilesubstances)presentinasample.Thetestinvolvesdryingasampleunderspecifiedconditions(temperature,time,andpressure)andmeasuringtheweightloss.Theresultisexpressedasapercentageoftheoriginalsampleweight.Thistestiscommonlyusedinpharmaceutical,chemical,andfoodindustriestoassessthemoisturecontentorresidualsolventsinrawmaterials,intermediates,andfinishedproducts.Theproceduremustbeperformedcarefullytoensureaccurateandreproducibleresults,asexcessivemoistureorsolventscanaffectproductstability,potency,andshelflife.
