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  • Process Qualification Approach
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  • Establishing Acceptance Criteria
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  • Validation Vital Role
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  • Qualification Phases↓
    • Design Qualification
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    • QSR vs ISO 13485
    • QMSR FDA Final Rule
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• Requalification
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General Principles on Process Validation - FDA Guidance

The FDA provides guidance on process validation in the document titled "Process Validation: General Principles and Practices." This guidance outlines the FDA's expectations for the validation of manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries.

Key Points from the FDA Guideline:

1. Process Validation Approach: The FDA recommends a lifecycle approach to process validation, which includes process design, process qualification, and continued process verification.

2. Process Design: The first stage of process validation involves understanding the product and process characteristics and establishing the process design space. This includes defining critical process parameters (CPPs) and critical quality attributes (CQAs).

3. Process Qualification: The next stage is process qualification, which verifies that the process is capable of consistently producing acceptable product quality. This typically involves conducting a series of experiments, including installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), and performance qualification (PQ).

4. Continued Process Verification: Once the process is qualified, ongoing monitoring and verification are necessary to ensure that the process remains in a state of control. This includes collecting and analyzing data, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), and implementing appropriate corrective actions as needed.

5. Risk-Based Approach: The FDA emphasizes the importance of a risk-based approach to process validation. This involves identifying and assessing potential risks associated with the process, focusing validation efforts on the most critical process steps and parameters, and using appropriate statistical tools for data analysis.

6. Documentation: The FDA expects thorough documentation of the process validation activities, including protocols, reports, data analyses, and any deviations or corrective actions taken. Documentation should be detailed, accurate, and easily accessible for review by regulatory authorities.

7. Change Control: Any changes to the validated process should be evaluated and controlled through a robust change control system. The FDA expects companies to have procedures in place to assess the impact of changes on the validated process and to determine the need for revalidation or additional verification activities.

It is important to note that the FDA guidance provides general principles and practices for process validation. The specific requirements and expectations may vary depending on the nature of the product, regulatory jurisdiction, and other factors. It is advisable to consult the FDA guidance document directly for comprehensive and up-to-date information on process validation requirements.