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Rapid Microbiology Methods Industry Concerns. Jeanne Moldenhauer Vectech Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc. Business Objectives. Laboratory Compliance to FDA requirements Low cost provider of high quality products Reduce overhead Just-in-time production Reduce inventory hold times
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Rapid Microbiology MethodsIndustry Concerns Jeanne Moldenhauer Vectech Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc.
Business Objectives • Laboratory Compliance to FDA requirements • Low cost provider of high quality products • Reduce overhead • Just-in-time production • Reduce inventory hold times • Expedite product approvals • State of the art technology usage
Concerns Over Use of Rapid Methods • Regulatory review and approval expectations are not clear • Cost of equipment is high and perceived regulatory risk is high • Most types of equipment for rapid methods cannot be validated to be equivalent, due to superior technology • Compliance issues vs. Submission issues • Scientific Issues
Case Study 1: Water Testing • Reviewing division indicated “unofficially” it was a compliance issue • Local District consulted and issues were discussed, e.g., equivalence and number of tests • Advised that: • When approved technology would raise the bar. • Compliance is not likely to move on this issue very very slowly. • ROI was dependent upon using testing method during validation and validation could not be held for an indefinite time period.
Case Study 2: Biological Indicator Enumeration • Regulatory Strategy: Develop method, validate and submit with a drug where a known deficiency would occur. Have parallel testing, in case new method was not approved. • USP Stimuli to Revision indicated method was suitable for bacteria, fungi and spores. • Started to develop method
Case Study 2: Biological Indicators cont. • Counts were erratic and went to the vendor • Modified test several times, with some counts being lower than traditional method. • Modified test and control counts were good but stressed organism test counts were up to 4 logs higher • What does that say about the sterilization model?
Case Study 2:Biological Indicators cont. • Studies done and showed that indicator organism was dying in expected log fashion, with good approximation of D-value • Supposed that counts still were not true • Eventually, was able to find out scientifically that clumping was an issue • Final method yielded counts approximately one-half log higher for stressed organisms