An evaluation test used for tablets, not capsules?

• A. Friability test
• B. Disintegration test
• C. Uniformity test
• D. Hardness test

Answer: (A)

The test focuses on the mechanical integrity of tablets under handling. Friability assesses how much a tablet crumbles or loses weight when subjected to a gentle but repeated mechanical shock, typically in a friabilator that tumbles the tablets at a set speed for several minutes. A tablet that passes has minimal weight loss, indicating it will withstand packaging, shipping, and handling without breaking apart. This test is specifically characteristic of tablets because the compressed solid tablet form exposes a tendency to crack or crumble, which isn’t the same issue for capsules.

Why this is the best choice: it targets the physical durability of the tablet itself under realistic handling stresses, a concern that isn’t addressed the same way for capsules. The other tests evaluate attributes that apply to both forms or to different aspects of dosage form performance: disintegration measures how quickly the dosage form breaks into particles, which capsules also undergo; uniformity checks weight or content consistency and can apply to tablets and capsules; hardness assesses crushing strength and is relevant for tablets and, in some contexts, for capsules as well. But friability remains the test most specifically associated with tablets’ resistance to abrasion and breakage during handling.