Qualitative assessment
Evaluate if degradation occur during formulation, storage, shipment.
If degradation occurred, identify the degradation products and evaluate their effects on overall quality of the product.
In qualitative assessment, quantity of degradation products is not very important as long as it does not affect the product quality.
The efficacy and safety of the product cannot be predicted, it must be determined/evaluated practically.
Useful information include: identity of the degradation product, biological activity, potential side effects of the degradation product, inclusion of the degradation product in the product.