
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 1: Validation: Moist Heat (8)
- TR 48: Moist Heat Sterilizer Systems (5)
- TR 3: Validation: Dry Heat (5)
- TR 51: Biological Indicators (3)
- TR 14: Validation: Protein Purification Chromatography (3)
- TR 30: Parametric Release (3)
- TR 64: Temp Controlled Systems Qualification (2)
- TR 69: Bioburden/Biofilm Management (2)
- TR 13: Environmental Monitoring (2)
- TR 54-5: Quality Risk Management for the Design, Qualification, and Operation of Manufacturing Systems (2)
- TR 45: Depth Filtration (2)
- TR 47: Virus Spikes/Virus Clearance (1)
- TR 54: QRM:Manufacturing Operations (1)
- TR 54-2: QRM: Packaging Labeling (1)
- TR 54-4: QRM: Biotech Drug Substance (1)
- TR 58: Temp Controlled Distribution (1)
- TR 60: Process Validation (1)
- TR 62: Manual Aseptic Processes (1)
- TR 67: Objectionable Microorganisms (1)
- TR 70: Cleaning/Disinfection Programs (1)
- TR 72: Passive Thermal Protection Systems: Qualification/Operations (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 42: Validation: Protein Manufacturing (1)
- TR 43: Glass Defects (1)
- TR 44: QRM: Aseptic Processes (1)
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Bioburden
The total number of microorganisms per unit of material prior to sterilization. (TR13) Total number of viable microorganisms on or in a health care product prior to sterilization. (TR22)(TR61)(TR62) A population of viable microorganisms in a fluid prior to sterilizing filtration. (TR26) A measure of the contaminating organisms found in or on a given amount of material before it undergoes a sterilization process. (TR45) (TR70) The number of detectable microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) with which an object is contaminated. It is measured in CFU (colony forming units). (TR47) The number of viable, contaminating microorganisms present on a product immediately prior to decontamination. (TR51) Viable microbial contaminants associated with personnel manufacturing environments (air and surfaces), equipment, product packaging, raw materials (including water), in-process materials, and finished products. (TR 67) (TR 69)
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Biological Qualification
A component of performance qualification that demonstrates, by use of biological indicators, that the required lethality (FBIO) is achieved consistently throughout the load. (TR1) (TR3) (TR30) A component of performance qualification that demonstrates, by use of biological indicators, that the required lethality (FBIO) or spore log reduction (SLR) is achieved consistently throughout the sterilized or sanitized portion of the SIP system. (TR61)
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Critical Control Point
A step at which control can be applied and that is essential to prevent or eliminate a pharmaceutical quality hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level. (TR54-4) (TR61)
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Cycle Development
A series of activities performed for the purpose of defining or confirming the cycle parameters (e.g., time, temperature, pressure) necessary to ensure sanitization or sterilization. (TR61)
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Deadlegs
An area of entrapment in the vessel or piping run that could lead to contamination of the product due to insufficient exposure to moist heat. (TR61)
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F-Value (Lethality Factor)
A measurement of sterilization effectiveness, the F-value is the calculated equivalent lethality (using a specified z-value), in terms of minutes at a reference temperature (Tref), delivered by a sterilization cycle. (TR1) (TR3) (TR30) (TR48) (TR61)
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Hazard
The potential source of harm. (TR44) (TR54) (TR54-2) (TR58) (TR61)
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Installation Qualification (IQ)
Documented verification that the equipment or systems, as installed or modified, comply with the approved design, the manufacturer’s recommendations, and/or user requirements. (TR14) (TR42) (TR48) (TR61) (TR64)
The documented verification that the facilities, systems and equipment, as installed or modified, comply with the approved design and the manufacturer’s recommendations. (TR54-5)
Documented verification that the equipment or systems, as installed or modified, comply with the approved design, the manufacturer’s recommendations, and/or user requirements (17). (TR60)
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Leak Test
See System Integrity Test. (TR61)
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Minimum Acceptable Cycle (MAC)
The minimum cycle conditions (in terms of delivered minimum lethality or minimum time and temperature) that would be considered acceptable. (TR01) (TR61)
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Operating Parameters (Key Parameters)
Values that are controlled and/or measured and are used to assure the ongoing “state of control” and consistency of runs. Failure to meet a key process parameter should result in an investigation with a documented rationale for the disposition of the load. (TR01) (TR3) (TR51) (TR48) Values that are controlled and/or measured and are used to assure the ongoing “state of control” of steam in place cycles. Failure to meet a key process parameter should result in an investigation. (TR61)
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Operational Qualification (OQ)
Documented verification that the equipment or systems, as installed or modified, perform as intended throughout the anticipated operating ranges. (TR14) (TR61) (TR64) (TR72)
The documented verification that the facilities, systems and equipment, as installed or modified, perform as intended throughout the anticipated operating ranges. (TR54-5)
Documented verification that the equipment or systems, as installed or modified, perform as intended throughout the anticipated operating ranges (17). (TR60-3)
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Overkill Design Approach
A sterilization design approach where minimal information is required about the product bioburden. A worst-case bioburden assumption is used to determine the delivered lethality needed to achieve a PNSU of 10-6 on or in the items being sterilized. When using this approach, the qualification program must demonstrate that both the FBIO and FPHYS are greater than 12 minutes. The required lethality may vary regionally. (Note: For typical SIP systems, the FPHYS will need to be greater than the FBIO.) (TR01) (TR3) (TR30) (TR61)
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Sanitization
Reduction of microbial contaminants to safe levels as judged by public health requirements for the specific country. (TR13) A significant reduction in bioburden, achieved in chromatography by the use of bactericidal agents, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), ethanol (EtOH), and isopropanol (IPA). (TR14) The process of reducing microbial levels by treatment at less than defined sterilizing conditions. Typically water at 80 °C or a chemical treatment is used to perform sanitization of process components. (TR45) A process that reduces the number of viable microorganisms to a defined level. (TR61) (TR69)
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Saturated Steam
Steam that is at a temperature and pressure that corresponds to the vaporization curve of water. It is in a state of equilibrium between being a liquid and a gas, with no entrained liquid water. [Synonym: Dry Saturated Steam] (TR01) (TR48) (TR61)
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Spore Log Reduction (SLR)
The number of log reductions (10-fold changes) of spores from the initial population. For the overkill sterilization method, one targets a spore log reduction of 12 to achieve 1 x 10-6 probability of a survivor when using a biological indicator having a population of 1 x 106. (TR61)
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Steam in Place Cycle
A sequence of defined steps and operating parameters (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) performed in situ on equipment and/or systems to provide a given sterility assurance level (SAL) or defined sanitization level. (TR61)
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Steam: Pure Steam
Collected condensate that complies with the Compendial requirements for Water for Injecton (WFI). [Synonyms: clean steam, high quality steam] (TR01) (TR61) (TR48)
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Survivor Curve
Graphical representation of the inactivation of a population of microorganisms with increasing exposure to a microbicidal agent under stated conditions. (TR01) (TR3) (TR51) (TR61)