Assay methods validation

TABLE 4 Assay Method Validation in Early Phase for Drug Substance and Drug Product... 

Since the inception of the focus group, several subcommittees were formed that addressed unique issues related to the application of LBAs in various disciplines. These committees have published white papers related to the validation of LBAs for quantitative drug analysis [28], frt-for-purpose method validation of biomarkers [29], antidrug antibody assay method validation [34], and validation of assays for neutralizing antidmg antibodies [35]. 

The basic elements and considerations for assay development, validation, and specification assignment are reviewed briefly. Assay development produces a method that requires validation for the analysis and release of materials (bulk or formulated finished product) for use in clinical development. The cumulative analysis of materials and stability considerations is then used to established specifications for internal and regulatory submission. 

Urinary alkaline phosphatase activity. II. An analytical validation of the assay method. JAMA (1963), 185, 953-957. 

Non-specific absolute assay methods, e.g. volumetric titration, can be applied to avoid the establishment of a reference substance. This is only appropriate, however, when the monograph describes a separation test for related substances. This approach is certainly valid for the determination of the content of pharmaceutical raw materials but less acceptable for the assay of content of pharmaceutical preparations where the employment of specific assay methods is recommended (ICH Guideline 1994) to take account of decomposition of the active ingredient during the shelf life of the product and to avoid possible interference from excipients. 

The near-IR technique has been used very successfully for moisture determination, whole tablet assay, and blending validation [23]. These methods are typically easy to develop and validate, and far easier to run than more traditional assay methods. Using the overtone and combination bands of water, it was possible to develop near-IR methods whose accuracy was equivalent to that obtained using Karl-Fischer titration. The distinction among tablets of differing potencies could be performed very easily and, unlike HPLC methods, did not require destruction of the analyte materials to obtain a result. 

A modification of the above serum folic assay method was recently described (W4). The investigators confirmed the validity of this technique as a practical means of differentiating patients with folic acid from vitamin B12 megaloblastic anemias. Another modification of this method was also described (C4). These investigators reduced the over-all sensitivity by high serum dilutions and thus made the assay, as they used it, valueless as a diagnostic tool. 

XRPD as a stability-indicating assay method When the phase identity, or degree of crystallinity (or lack thereof), of a drug substance is important to its performance in a drug product, XRPD can serve as a vital stability-indicating assay method. There is no doubt that XRPD can be validated to the status of any other stability-indicating assay, and that one can use the usual criteria of method validation to establish the performance parameters of the method. This aspect would... 

Rozet, E., Wascotte, V., Lecouturier, N., Preat, V., Dewe, W., Boulanger, B., Hubert, P. Improvement of the decision efficiency of the accuracy profile by means of a desirability function for analytical methods validation application to a diacetyl-monoxime colorimetric assay used for the... 

Identification (ID) tests in Category IV require only specificity for their validation. Identification by HPLC usually involves comparison of the retention time (%) or relative retention time (RRT) of a sample and standard injection. The increasing use of photodiode array (PDA) detectors in HPLC methods also allows identification by comparison of UV spectra for standards and samples, in addition to retention characteristics. The information required for either ID test by HPLC can be gathered while performing any other HPLC method for a given sample. Identification tests are often incorporated into the assay method and the satisfactory completion of specificity for the assay will meet the requirements for ID as well. 

Range is not a parameter that can be measured independently, but must be inferred from a review of the data collected for accuracy, precision, and linearity. The validation of an assay method may demonstrate linearity from 50% to 150% of the sample concentration. Accuracy and precision data may have only been collected from 70% to 130% of the sample concentration. The range of this particular method would be from 70% to 130% where all three parameters have been evaluated. 

A stability-indicating method is a validated quantitative analytical procedure that can detect the changes with time in the pertinent properties of the drug substance and drug product under defined storage condition. A stability-indicating assay method accurately measures the active ingredient(s) without interference from other peaks and is sensitive... 

A well-defined, precise, and validated method will help to determine the drug content accurately, whereas an assay method capable of detecting at low levels can help calculate drug losses during the manufacturing process. Different vendors can supply common APIs. The API characterization accompanied by information from the manufacturer on the synthetic route determines the impurities profile and the method used for the active assay. 

Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, lacks a significant chromophore. Detection sensitivity was enhanced by using a wavelength of 200 nm and selecting an injection solvent of lower conductivity than the BGE. In order to facilitate the separation of erythromycin and its related substances, 35% (v/v) ethanol was incorporated into a 150 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.5. Resolution of all of the compounds was achieved in approximately 45 min. The method was employed as an assay method for erythromycin and for impurity determination. Peptide antibiotics, such as colistin and polymyxin, are mixtures of many closely related compounds. A validated CZE method for impurity analysis of polymyxin B was described, employing 130 mM triethanolamine-phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 to reduce the adsorption of analyte onto the capillary wall. Methyl-/l-cyclodextrin (M-/1-CD) and 2-propanol were found to be necessary for selectivity enhancement. Using similar buffer additives, the same group developed and validated a method for colistin analysis. ... 

It is an essential condition of biological assay methods that the tests on the standard preparation and on the sample whose potency is being determined should be carried out at the same time and, in all other respects, under strictly comparable conditions. The validation of microbiological assay method includes performance criteria (analytical parameters) such as linearity, range, accuracy, precision, specificity, etc. 

Execution of the method validation protocol should be carefully planned to optimize the resources and time required to complete the full validation study. For example, in the validation of an assay method, linearity and accuracy may be validated at the same time as both experiments can use the same standard solutions. A normal validation protocol should contain the following contents at a minimum ... 

An example of the minimum requirement for potency assay of the drug substance and drug product is tabulated in Table 4. Note that the postponement of intermediate precision is aligned with previous discussion that the use of early phase analytical method resides mainly in one laboratory and is used only by a very limited number of analysts. Each individual company s phased method validation procedures and processes will vary, but the overall philosophy is the same. The extent of and expectations from early phase method validation are lower than the requirements in the later stages of development. The validation exercise becomes larger and more detailed and collects a larger body of data to ensure that the method is robust and appropriate for use at the commercial site. 

System suitability is part of method validation. Experience gained during method development will give insights to help determine the system suitability requirements of the final method. An example is the hydrolysis of acetylsalicylic acid to salicylic acid in acidic media. Separation of this degradation peak from the analyte could be one criterion for the system suitability of an acetylsalicylic acid assay. 

Design of Validation Experiments. For the validation of an automated assay method based on a validated manual method and involving a technical transfer of the method, the following experiments would be required ... 

The fundamental parameters for bioanalytical validations include accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility, stability of the drug in the matrix under study storage conditions, range, recovery, and response function (see Section 8.2.1). These parameters are also applicable to microbiological and ligand-binding assays. However, these assays possess some unique characteristics that should be considered during method validation, such as selectivity and quantification issues. 

It may be important to consider the variability of the matrix due to the physiological nature of the sample. In the case of LC-M/MS-based procedures, appropriate steps should be taken to ensure the lack of matrix effects throughout application of the method, especially if the nature of the matrix changes from the matrix used during method validation. For Microbiological and immunoassay, if separation is used prior to assay for study samples but not for standards, it is important to establish recovery and use it in determining results. In this case, possible approaches to assess efficiency and reproducibility of recovery are ... 

All computational methods require the use of an experimental screening assay to validate binding. 

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