Qualification of HSQC methods for quantitative composition of heparin and low molecular weight heparins.

•Robust heparin mono- and di-saccharide composition measurements are a key tests for ensuring drug quality.•NMR HSQC data enables quick and detailed heparin compositional analysis with minimal sample treatment.•A robustness investigation and method validation showed the NMR technique was suitable for pharmaceutical quality assessment purposes.•Signal to noise measurements provided a metric for inclusion of peaks in composition analysis and for the proposal of a System Suitability Test.•Important NMR factors for optimal performance were pulse sequence, relaxation delay and temperature control.