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 (10)
- TR 44: QRM: Aseptic Processes (8)
- TR 54: QRM:Manufacturing Operations (6)
- TR 54-5: Quality Risk Management for the Design, Qualification, and Operation of Manufacturing Systems (6)
- TR 67: Objectionable Microorganisms (3)
- TR 88: Microbial Data Deviation Investigations in the Pharmaceutical Industry (3)
- TR 30: Parametric Release (3)
- TR 54-3: QRM: Drug Products (2)
- TR 54-4: QRM: Biotech Drug Substance (2)
- TR 64: Temp Controlled Systems Qualification (2)
- TR 68: Drug Shortage Management (2)
- TR 39: Cold Chain (2)
- TR 52: Supply Chain GDP (1)
- TR 55: TBA/TCA Detection Mitigation (1)
- TR 57: Analytical Method Validation (1)
- TR 57-2: Analytical Method Development (1)
- TR 61: Steam in Place (1)
- TR 70: Cleaning/Disinfection Programs (1)
- TR 22: Aseptic Process Simulation (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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CE Marking
The CE marking is a key indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation and enables the free movement of products within the European market. (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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Hazard
The potential source of harm. (TR44) (TR54) (TR54-2) (TR58) (TR61)
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Incident
Any event that occurs during the shelf life of a product that may have an adverse effect on quality (e.g., temperature excursion, missing temperature monitor when required, shipment time in excess of qualified packout duration, wet/ crushed packaging). (TR58)
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Incident Management System
Part of the Quality Management System that handles incidents, deviations, excursions, and exceptions in the supply chain. (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)