3-Hour Virtual Seminar on Handling OOS Test Results and Completing Robust Investigations

This seminar will review the regulatory requirements for investigating an OOS Investigation. The responsibilities of the analyst, the supervisor and QA will be discussed. A detailed flow chart will be used to help the attendees clearly understand the steps and the order in which they are to be performed. The structure of an Investigation report which properly documents the investigation will be discussed.

The lack of or Inadequate procedures for handling out of specification (OOS) situations and failure investigations are amongst the most frequently found deviations in FDA warning letters. Most companies have procedures but either they are not adequate or are not followed. This seminar will guide attendees through the entire process from detection an out-of-specification result to informal and formal laboratory and batch investigations.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the responsibilities of analysts and supervisors
• Listen to what the FDA looks for in terms of human errors
• Describe when a full investigation should be triggered
• Describe the frequency for re-testing and re-sampling
• Learn how to implement the corrective and preventive action plans (CAPA)

Areas Covered in the Session : 

Session 1:

Guidelines for Detecting an OOS or Atypical Result

• Definition Atypical or Out of Specification Result?
• Review of the FDA Guidance for Industry on Investigating OOS Test Results
  • Phase I: Initial Laboratory Investigation
  • Phase II: Full Scale Investigation
• Root Cause Analysis Methods
  • 5 Whys
  • Flow Charts
  • Checklists
  • Fishbone Diagrams

Session 2:

Testing the hypotheses regarding potential root causes

• Retesting
• Considering Other Batches

Session 3:

Developing a proper CAPA plan to address any Corrective Actions

• How to properly document findings
• Example of a proper OOS investigation write up

 Who Should Attend:

• Quality Assurance Departments
• Quality Control Departments
• Research and Development Departments
• Regulatory Affairs Departments
• Compliance Departments
• Laboratory Staff
• Training Departments
• GMP auditors
• Consultants

Course Director: DANIELLE DELUCY ‎

Danielle DeLucy, MS, is owner of ASA Training and Consulting, LLC which provides Pharmaceutical and Biologics based companies with training and quality systems  assistance in order to meet Regulatory compliance. Prior to this role, Danielle has been in the industry for 15 years serving in numerous Quality Management Roles, such as the Director of Product Quality, the oversight of Sterility Assurance practices and provided QA oversight of numerous filling and packaging operations. Danielle began her QA career as a Quality Control Pharmaceutical Microbiologist at a contract laboratory where she performed various tests for their clients. In the years after, she has held positions in the Quality management arena while increasing her responsibility. She has helped to lead many Regulatory Health Inspections and was instrumental in the coaching process of her peers prior to any inspection. Currently, Danielle assists companies who are faced with warning letters, consent decrees and those wishing to improve compliance establish more robust quality systems so that the company can succeed.