Dissolution testing is related to bioavailability because it measures what?

• A. The color and odor of a dissolution medium.
• B. The taste of the dosage form.
• C. The rate and extent of drug release; dissolution correlates with bioavailability and batch-to-batch consistency.
• D. Disintegration time alone determines bioavailability.

Answer: (D)

Dissolution testing relates to bioavailability because it directly measures how quickly and how much of the drug leaves the dosage form and goes into solution under conditions like the GI environment. Absorption depends on the drug being dissolved; if it doesn’t dissolve well, little of it can reach systemic circulation, so dissolution rate and extent largely determine the amount that can be absorbed over time. That’s why dissolution data are used to predict in vivo bioavailability and to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Disintegration is a separate step that just breaks the tablet apart; even fast disintegration won’t guarantee good absorption if the drug doesn’t dissolve readily. Color, odor, or taste are not indicators of bioavailability.