Material identification failures during receiving inspection create cascading problems - wrong polymers enter production causing processing failures, performance issues, or biocompatibility concerns discovered only after expensive manufacturing and testing. FTIR polymer screening provides rapid material identification and comparison through characteristic infrared spectral patterns unique to different polymers and compounds. The ATR-FTIR technique requires minimal sample preparation - just placing material against crystal - while delivering molecular fingerprints that confirm material identity, detect contamination or adulteration, and verify polymer processing hasn't altered chemical structure. Critical for incoming material inspection ensuring suppliers deliver specified materials rather than substitutions, investigation of device failures potentially linked to material substitution or contamination, and confirmation that processing hasn't degraded materials through oxidation or thermal damage. The spectral comparison against reference materials enables rapid pass/fail decisions supporting quality control programs where material identity verification prevents wrong materials from entering production. Manufacturing applications include validating cleaning effectiveness by detecting residue signatures, confirming sterilization hasn't caused material degradation through chemical changes, and investigating discoloration or property changes potentially reflecting chemical modifications. For devices with multiple polymer components, FTIR screening verifies each component's identity and detects cross-contamination where materials exchange plasticizers or additives during storage. The non-destructive testing enables verification without consuming product, supporting 100% inspection when required. Root cause investigations benefit from spectral comparison revealing whether materials match specifications, contain unexpected additives suggesting formulation changes, or show degradation products indicating aging or improper storage.1001080