
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 58: Temp Controlled Distribution (4)
- TR 61: Steam in Place (3)
- TR 72: Passive Thermal Protection Systems: Qualification/Operations (3)
- TR 14: Validation: Protein Purification Chromatography (3)
- TR 54-5: Quality Risk Management for the Design, Qualification, and Operation of Manufacturing Systems (3)
- TR 39: Cold Chain (3)
- TR 48: Moist Heat Sterilizer Systems (2)
- TR 60-3: Process Validation: A Lifecycle Approach: Bio Drug Sub Mfg (2)
- TR 42: Validation: Protein Manufacturing (2)
- TR 60: Process Validation (1)
- TR 3: Validation: Dry Heat (1)
- TR 45: Depth Filtration (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 Temperature Controlled System
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). (TR 72) (TR64)
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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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British Thermal Unit (BTU)
The amount of heat (measured in Joules) required to raise the temperature of one pound of
water by 1ºF.(TR64)
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Condenser
Component that removes the heat absorbed by the refrigerant from the compressor and temperature- controlled area. (TR64)
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Controlled Environmental Space (CES)
An area that is controlled by regulating temperature. (TR64)
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Evaporator
Component that transfers heat out of or into the CES (to control the area temperature). (TR64)
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Full Loop Calibration
A calibration process that includes all measurement system components, from sensor to measurement value (e.g., temperature calibration of a data logger and attached thermocouple wires). (TR64)
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Generator Set (Genset)
A generator unit that is used to provide electrical power to maintain the temperature in a container/ trailer in transit and is not attached to a stationary power source. Gensets consist of a diesel or electrically powered engine that produces the required voltage to operate the temperature control unit (TCU; reefer) on the container/trailer. (TR64)
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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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Intermodal Container
A shipping container used to ship cargo through more than one of the four traditional modes of transportation (road, air, ocean, and rail). (TR64)
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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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Performance Qualification (PQ)
Documented verification that the equipment and ancillary systems, as connected together, can perform effectively and reproducibly based on the approved process method and specifications. (TR3) (TR14) (TR45) (TR42) (TR48) (TR61) (TR64)
Transport tests of product or representative product that is conducted during actual transportation or distribution. (TR39)
Documented evidence that provides a high degree of assurance that the equipment and/or system functions accurately and consistently according to predetermined specifications in its operating environment. (TR54-5)
Documented verification that the equipment and ancillary systems, as connected together, can perform effectively and reproducibly based on the approved process method and specifications (17). (TR60-3)
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Protocol
A predefined, written procedural method for the design and implementation of experiments to define and document the methodology and criteria required to assess the capability of a temperature-controlled system to achieve the desired result. (TR64)
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Protocol Deviation
A deviation that occurs when a result is unexpected (i.e., fails to meet the predetermined acceptance criteria) or a procedure in the protocol cannot be executed as written (e.g., when a challenge is conducted using a methodology other than that described in the protocol or a process/ piece of test equipment fails). (TR64)
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Protocol Summary Report
A report generated at the completion of the activities identified in an individual validation protocol that summarizes deviations and conclusions. (TR64)
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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)