Validation computer system

Computer System Validation US Code of Federal Regulations 21 CFR Part 11. 

Define what computer system validation would ultimately entail in a management-approved document, such as a policy statement. 

The Association for Clinical Data Management (ACDM) and Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI) publish an excellent document called Computer Systems Validation in Clinical Research A Practical Guide, which can be found at http //www.cr-csv.org/. 

Laboratories using computer technology must assure that they have adequate controls in their delivery of data to the EPA. Computer system validation is the process by which a computer system is shown to consistently do what it is supposed to do and only what it is supposed to do. In effect, the validation study confirms and documents the areas of control and the specifications contained in the GALP requirements. 

Goren LJ. Computer system validation, part II. BioPharm 38-42, Feb. 1989. 

PMA s Computer Systems Validation Committee, Validation concepts for computer systems used in the manufacture of drug products, Pharm. TechnoL, 10(5), 24, 1986. 

October 23, 2002 Process Analytical Technology Subcommittee Meeting o Computer systems validation—Part 11 issues pertinent to PAT... 

A computer system is composed of software and hardware, equipment, a processor, and a user, and it is used to execute a specific procedure. Regardless of whether the computer system is developed in-house or by a contractor or purchased off the shelf, establishing documented end-user requirements is extremely important for computer systems validation. Without first establishing end-user needs and intended use, it is virtually impossible to confirm that the system can consistently meet them. Once established, it should obtain evidence that the computer system implements those needs correctly and that they are traceable to system design requirements and specifications. It is important that the end-user requirements specifications take into account predicate rules [12]. 

Validation Team A well-defined validation team with a well-written description of responsibilities is required and assures the adequate realization of the validation tasks. A validation team should be composed by different responsibilities responsible-of-validation team, team leader, archive manager, test coordinator, quality assurance member, tester, and witness. The responsible-for-validation team elaborates and approves the VMP, protocols, and reports. The team leader should be responsible for the computer system validation and utilization. An archive manager is responsible for the management of all computer system validation documents. The test coordinator is responsible for the computer system test and coordinates the elaboration and operation of tests for evaluating the performance of the computer system. A quality assurance member is required to periodically inspect and train the personnel and review all the validation documents. The tester is responsible for the execution of the tests required to perform the validation protocol. The witness is responsible for observing and reviewing the operations of the tester. 

Validation of the instrument and the computer controlling it (computer system validation or CSV)... 

Proper functioning and performance of equipment and computer systems play a major role in obtaining consistency, reliability, and accuracy of analytical data. Therefore, equipment qualification (EQ) and computer system validation (CSV) should be part of any good analytical practice. It is also requested by FDA regulations through the overall requirement that equipment must be suitable for its intended use. While in the past, equipment qualification and computer validation focused on equipment hardware and stand-alone computer systems, recently the focus has been on network infrastructure, networked systems, and on the security, authenticity, and integrity of data acquired and evaluated by computer systems. 

Equipment qualification covers the entire life of a product. It starts when somebody has an idea about a product and ends when the equipment is retired. For computer systems validation, this ends when all records on the computer system have been migrated and validated for accuracy and completeness on a new system. Because of the length of time and complexity, the process has been broken down into shorter phases design qualification (DQ), installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), and performance qualification (PQ) [2]. The process is illustrated in Figure 17.1. 

Steps for equipment qualification and computer system validation with examples on type and extent of testing... 

The most important factors for the entire process of equipment qualification and computer system validation in analytical laboratories are proper planning, execution of qualification according to the plan, and documentation of the results. The process should start with the definition of the analytical technique and the development of user requirement and functional specifications. For computer systems, a formal vendor assessment should be made. This can be done through checklists and vendor documentation with internal and/or external references. For very complex systems, it should go through a vendor audit. 

In addition to the foregoing items that have to be covered, there are other topics that might need to be taken into account. These topics include (note that several of these topics are related to computer system validation) ... 

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