A process for the preparation of a carbapenem of formula (I): in amorphous form wherein R represents hydrogen or COOM and M represents hydrogen or sodium the process including condensing a compound of formula (II): wherein P′ denotes a carboxy protecting group, with a compound of formula (III): wherein P″ denotes a carboxy protecting group, in the presence of a base to yield a compound of formula (IV): deprotecting both the protecting groups in the compound of formula (IV) in the presence or absence of a sodium ion source, a solvent and in the presence or absence of CO2, gas, extracting the product into an aqueous medium, quenching the aqueous layer of into an alcohol at a temperature, and isolating the carbapenem compound of formula (I) in amorphous form.