
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 14: Validation: Protein Purification Chromatography (4)
- TR 56: Phase Appropriate cGMP Application (3)
- TR 54-5: Quality Risk Management for the Design, Qualification, and Operation of Manufacturing Systems (3)
- TR 42: Validation: Protein Manufacturing (3)
- TR 54: QRM:Manufacturing Operations (2)
- TR 54-4: QRM: Biotech Drug Substance (2)
- TR 57: Analytical Method Validation (2)
- TR 61: Steam in Place (2)
- TR 64: Temp Controlled Systems Qualification (2)
- TR 74: Reprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals (2)
- TR 81: Cell-Based Therapy Control Strategy (2)
- TR 60-2: Process Validation: A Lifecycle Approach, Annex 1: Oral Solid Dosage/Semisolid Dosage Forms (2)
- TR 48: Moist Heat Sterilizer Systems (1)
- TR 60: Process Validation (1)
- TR 69: Bioburden/Biofilm Management (1)
- TR 72: Passive Thermal Protection Systems: Qualification/Operations (1)
- TR 3: Validation: Dry Heat (1)
- TR 38: Manufacturing Chromatography Systems Postapproval Changes (ChromPAC) (1)
- TR 88: Microbial Data Deviation Investigations in the Pharmaceutical Industry (1)
- TR 39: Cold Chain (1)
- TR 44: QRM: Aseptic Processes (1)
- TR 45: Depth Filtration (1)
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Critical Process Parameter (CPP) or Critical Operational Parameter
A process parameter whose variability has an impact on a critical quality attribute and therefore should be monitored or controlled to ensure the process produces the desired quality. (TR54) (TR54-4) (TR56) (TR54-5) (TR60-2) (TR5 6) (TR 81)
An input process parameter that should be controlled within a meaningful operating range to ensure that drug substance critical quality attributes meet their specifications. Although parameters with wide operating ranges may also impact product quality, they are generally easily controlled and not as likely to result in excursions that impact quality and are therefore low risk of occurrence. (TR60-3)
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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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Process Validation
The documented evidence that the process, operated within established parameters, can perform effectively and reproducibly to produce an intermediate or API (drug substance) meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes. (TR14) (TR42)
Establishing documented evidence which provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process will consistently produce a product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes. (TR44)
The collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage through commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality products. (TR54) (TR57) (TR74)
The collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage through commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality product.
The documented evidence that the process, operated within established parameters, can perform effectively and reproducibly to produce a medicinal product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes, as described in EMA, EU GMP, Part 1, Annex 15, drug/medicinal product. (TR56)
EMA: The documented evidence that the process, operated within established parameters, can perform effectively and reproducibly to produce a medicinal product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes.
US FDA: The collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage through commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality products. (TR60-2)
The documented evidence that the process, operated within established parameters, can perform effectively and reproducibly to produce an intermediate or drug substance meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes (1, 17). (TR60-3)
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Qualified Assay
An assay that is not fully validated but is documented to be suitable for its intended use, including sample collection and handling procedures. Such an assay should be demonstrated to be accurate, precise, linear within the range of use, and show no interference from process stream components (i.e., spike recovery). (TR42) (TR60-3)
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Quality Target Product Profile (QTPP)
A prospective summary of the quality characteristics of a drug product that ideally will be achieved to ensure the desired quality, taking into account safety and efficacy of the drug product. (TR60) (TR54-4)(TR 81)(T60-3)
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Specification
A list of tests, references to analytical procedures, and appropriate acceptance criteria that are numerical limits, ranges, or other criteria for the test described. It establishes the set of criteria to which a material should conform to be considered acceptable for its intended use. (TR14)
A list of tests, references to analytical procedures, and appropriate acceptance criteria that are numerical limits, ranges, or other criteria for the test described. It establishes the set of criteria to which a material should conform to be considered acceptable for its intended use. Drug product and drug substance specifications are critical quality standards that are proposed and justified by the manufacturer and approved by regulatory authorities (TR38) (TR57)
A list of tests, references to analytical procedures, and appropriate acceptance criteria that are numerical limits, ranges, or other criteria for the test described. It establishes the set of criteria to which a material should conform to be considered acceptable for its intended use. Drug product and drug substance specifications are critical quality standards that are proposed and justified by the manufacturer and approved by regulatory authorities (TR69)
A list of tests, references to analytical procedures, and appropriate acceptance criteria, which are numerical limits, ranges, or other criteria for the tests described. It establishes the set of criteria to which a drug substance, drug product, or materials at other stages of its manufacture should conform to be considered acceptable for its intended use. “Conformance to specification” means that the drug substance and drug product, when tested according to the listed analytical procedures, will meet the acceptance criteria. Specifications are critical quality standards that are proposed and justified by the manufacturer and approved by regulatory authorities as conditions of approval. (TR56) (TR74)
A list of tests, references to analytical procedures, and appropriate acceptance criteria that are numerical limits, ranges, or other criteria for the test described. It establishes the set of criteria to which a material should conform to be considered acceptable for its intended use (17). (TR60-3)(TR88)