
PDA Technical Glossary
PDA Technical Reports are highly valued membership benefits because they offer expert guidance and opinions on important scientific and regulatory topics and are used as essential references by industry and regulatory authorities around the world. These reports include terms which explain the material and enhance the reader’s understanding.
The database presented here includes the glossary terms from all current technical reports. The database is searchable by keyword, topic, or by technical report. Each definition provided includes a link to the source technical report within the PDA Technical Report Portal.
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- TR 54-2: QRM: Packaging Labeling (9)
- TR 54-5: Quality Risk Management for the Design, Qualification, and Operation of Manufacturing Systems (7)
- TR 44: QRM: Aseptic Processes (7)
- TR 54: QRM:Manufacturing Operations (5)
- TR 64: Temp Controlled Systems Qualification (5)
- TR 88: Microbial Data Deviation Investigations in the Pharmaceutical Industry (4)
- TR 67: Objectionable Microorganisms (3)
- TR 30: Parametric Release (3)
- TR 39: Cold Chain (3)
- TR 54-3: QRM: Drug Products (2)
- TR 54-4: QRM: Biotech Drug Substance (2)
- TR 57: Analytical Method Validation (2)
- TR 68: Drug Shortage Management (2)
- TR 70: Cleaning/Disinfection Programs (2)
- TR 46: Good Distribution: Last Mile (1)
- TR 52: Supply Chain GDP (1)
- TR 55: TBA/TCA Detection Mitigation (1)
- TR 57-2: Analytical Method Development (1)
- TR 72: Passive Thermal Protection Systems: Qualification/Operations (1)
- TR 74: Reprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals (1)
- TR 1: Validation: Moist Heat (1)
- TR 22: Aseptic Process Simulation (1)
- TR 26: Sterilizing Filtration of Liquids (1)
- TR 60-3: Process Validation: A Lifecycle Approach: Bio Drug Sub Mfg (1)
- TR 76: Identification and Classification of Visible Nonconformities in Elastomeric Components and Aluminum Seals for Parenteral Packaging (1)
- TR 43: Glass Defects (1)
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Active Systems
Systems with active temperature control (e.g., air/sea freight containers, refrigerated trucks/cars). (TR39) System with active temperature control. It makes use of electricity or fuel for the compressor to maintain temperature. Examples include refrigerated trucks, temperature-controlled ocean containers, and active ULDs. (TR58) Actively powered system that uses electricity or other fuel source to maintain a temperaturecontrolled environment inside an insulated enclosure under thermostatic regulation (e.g., cold room, refrigerator, temperature-controlled truck, refrigerated ocean or air container). (TR64) (TR72) (Synonym: Active Temperature Controlled System)
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Active Unit Load Device (Active ULD)
A Unit Load Device (ULD) container used to consolidate cargo on aircraft that contains electrical or battery-powered temperature control systems for transporting temperature-sensitive materials; an RKN type is used in an FMEA example. (TR58) A unit load device with an active heating and/or cooling system that is typically used in air transportation, usually operated from externally supplied AC or DC power or from internal batteries. (TR64)
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Active Unit Load Device (ULD)
A Unit Load Device (ULD) container used to consolidate cargo on aircraft that contains electrical or battery-powered temperature control systems for transporting temperature-sensitive materials; an RKN type is used in an FMEA example. (TR58) A unit load device with an active heating and/or cooling system that is typically used in air transportation, usually operated from externally supplied AC or DC power or from internal batteries. (TR 64)
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Ambient Temperature
The air temperature of an environment. (TR58)
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Change Control
A formal program that describes evaluation and actions to be taken if a change is proposed or completed to facilities, materials, equipment, and/or processes used in the fabrication, packaging, and testing of drugs, or a proposed or completed change that may affect the operation of the quality or support systems. (TR22) (TR39) (TR52) (TR58) (TR64) (TR 70)
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Clinician
A physician, psychiatrist, etc., who specializes in clinical work as opposed to one engaged in laboratory or experimental studies. (TR58)
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Cold Chain
A temperature- and time-controlled supply chain for products (e.g., refrigerated products typically have a temperature storage range of 2 °C to 8 °C). (TR58)
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Controlled Room Temperature (CRT)
Defined by USP <1079> as the usual and customary working environment of 20 °C to 25 °C (68 - 77 F) that allows for deviations between 15 °C and 30 °C (59 - 86 F) based on stability data. (TR58)
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Deviation
Departure or digression from set parameters. (TR58)
Data or a result outside of the expected range or an unfulfilled requirement; it may be called nonconformity, defect, discrepancy, out-of-specification, out-of-limit, or adverse trend. (TR88)
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Distribution Testing
Qualification of packaging components for physical distribution integrity like shock, vibration, and drop tests. (TR58)
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Failure Effect
An impact on customer requirements. Generally, failure effect has an external customer focus, but it can also include downstream processes. (TR58)
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Mean Kinetic Temperature (MKT)
The single calculated temperature at which the total amount of degradation over a particular period is equal to the sum of the individual degradations that would occur at various temperatures. Thus, MKT may be considered as an isothermal storage temperature that simulates the nonisothermal effects of storage temperature variation. It is not a simple arithmetic mean. (TR46) (TR58)
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Qualification
Documented testing that demonstrates with a high degree of assurance that a specific process will meet its pre-determined acceptance criteria. (TR39) (TR58) (TR64)
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Quality Risk Management (QRM)
A systematic process for the assessment, control, communication, and review of risk to the quality of the drug product across the product lifecycle.(TR43)(TR54-2)(TR54-3)(TR57)(TR67)(TR68)
Documentation to prove that an installation/ equipment/process is designed and/or tested according to predefined specifications. Documentation may include Design Qualification (DQ), Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) and Performance Qualification (PQ).(TR58)
A systematic process for the assessment, control, communication, and review of risks to the quality of the drug (medicinal) product across the product lifecycle.(TR 54-5)(TR 76)(TR88)
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Residual Risk
Risk remaining after risk control measures have been taken. (TR44) (TR58)
Risk remaining after risk control measures have been implemented (derived from ISO 14971:2007). (TR54) (TR54-2)
Risk remaining after risk control measures has been implemented. (TR54-5)
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Risk
The combination of the probability of occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm.(TR30) (TR44) (TR54) (TR54-2) (TR54-4) (TR58) (TR67) (TR68) (TR88)
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Risk Acceptance
The decision to accept risk (ISO Guide 73). (TR54) (TR54-2) (TR58)
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Risk Analysis
The estimation of the risk associated with the identified hazards. (TR13) (TR30) (TR44) (TR54) (TR54-2) (TR58) (TR54-5)
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Risk Assessment
A systematic process of organizing information to support a risk decision to be made within a risk management process. It consists of identification of hazards and the analysis and evaluation of risk associated with exposure to those hazards. (TR30) (TR44) (TR54) (TR58) (TR55) (TR67) (TR57-2) (TR54-5) (TR88)
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Risk Evaluation
The comparison of the estimated risk to given risk criteria using a quantitative or qualitative scale to determine the significance of the risk (TR30) (TR54-2) (TR44) (TR58) (TR54-5)
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Risk Identification
The systematic use of information to identify potential sources of harm (hazards) referring to the risk question or problem description.(TR44) (TR54-2) (TR58) (TR54-5)
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Risk Reduction
The process of decreasing the level of risk. (TR44)
Process for mitigation or avoidance of quality risk when it exceeds a specified (acceptable) level (e.g., reduce severity, probability of harm, and improves detectability of hazards and quality risks). (TR58)
Actions taken to lessen the probability of occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm. (TR54-2) (TR54-5)
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Risk Review
An ongoing monitoring of events, output and results of the risk management process that takes into account new knowledge and experience. [A] step in the risk management process for taking in account of new knowledge and experiences. (TR44) (TR58)
Review or monitoring of output/results of the risk management process considering (if appropriate) new knowledge and experience about the risk. (TR54-2) (TR54-5)
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Store
A store is a temperature-controlled and / or temperature- monitored warehouse, chamber, or cabinet where pharmaceutical products are stored. (TR58)
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Validation
A documented program that provides a high level of scientific assurance that a manufacturing process will reliably produce acceptable product. The proof of validation is obtained through rational experimental design and the evaluation of data, preferably beginning from the process development phase and continuing through the commercial production phase. (TR01)
A documented program that provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process, method, or system will consistently produce a result meeting predetermined acceptance criteria. (TR26) (TR57) (TR70) (TR74)
Documented testing, performed under highly controlled conditions, which demonstrates that a process consistently produces a result that meets predetermined acceptance a result that meets predetermined acceptance criteria. Used to test processes, methods, and systems for which conditions can be controlled in the real world (i.e., after completion of testing, when the process is in use). Transportation processes can be qualified but not validated; in the real world, it is not possible to exert control over all parameters that could affect the transportation process (e.g., weather, customs, traffic delays, mechanical failures, etc.). (TR58)
A documented program that provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process, method, or system will consistently produce a result meeting predetermined acceptance criteria. (Note: Validation is a lifecycle program which may include development and qualification activities for one or more elements/systems that form a process.) (TR54-5)
A documented program that provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process, method, or system will consistently produce a result meeting pre-determined acceptance criteria (17). (TR60-3)