Standard Operating Procedure for Carryover Check in Bioanalytical Runs for BA/BE Studies
| Department | BA-BE Studies |
|---|---|
| SOP No. | SOP/BA-BE/163/2025 |
| Supersedes | SOP/BA-BE/163/2022 |
| Page No. | Page 1 of 10 |
| Issue Date | 17/04/2025 |
| Effective Date | 20/04/2025 |
| Review Date | 17/04/2026 |
1. Purpose
To define a validated procedure for evaluating and controlling carryover in LC-MS/MS bioanalytical runs to ensure data integrity in BA/BE studies.
2. Scope
This SOP applies to all analysts and QA personnel involved in LC-MS/MS-based bioanalysis of plasma samples during the execution of BA/BE studies.
3. Responsibilities
- Analyst: Conducts carryover checks and documents observations before and during sample analysis.
- QA Reviewer: Verifies
4. Accountability
The Head of Bioanalytical Laboratory is accountable for ensuring that carryover assessments are implemented for every analytical run as per regulatory requirements.
5. Procedure
5.1 Pre-Run Carryover Assessment
- Prepare and inject the following sequence at the beginning of the batch:
- Blank sample (no analyte)
- Upper Limit of Quantification (ULOQ) standard
- Blank sample immediately after ULOQ
- Evaluate the blank sample following ULOQ for:
- No peak for analyte or IS at the retention time.
- Area ≤ 20% of LLOQ response for analyte.
- Area ≤ 5% of average IS response for IS.
5.2 Carryover During Run
- After injecting each calibration curve and high concentration QC sample, include a blank injection to monitor in-run carryover.
- If any carryover is observed:
- Stop sequence immediately.
- Perform auto-sampler needle wash and run additional blanks until carryover clears.
- Document actions in Annexure-1: Carryover Investigation Log.
5.3 Preventive Measures
- Use dual or extended needle wash cycles in autosampler setup.
- Include rinse solutions such as acetonitrile/water/formic acid mixtures in wash protocol.
- Use partial loop or full loop with needle overfill injection modes to reduce system contact with sample residue.
5.4 Criteria for Carryover Acceptance
- Carryover is acceptable if:
- Post-ULOQ blank shows analyte area ≤ 20% of LLOQ.
- Post-ULOQ blank shows IS area ≤ 5% of mean IS area.
- No significant analyte signal visible in extracted ion chromatograms (XIC).
5.5 Documentation
- Document every carryover evaluation in the raw data folder and record findings in Annexure-2: Carryover Evaluation Sheet.
- Attach chromatograms of ULOQ and subsequent blank injections as evidence.
5.6 Reporting and Deviation Handling
- If unacceptable carryover is not resolved within three rinse attempts, discard affected batch and initiate deviation report.
- Log deviation in Annexure-3: Carryover Deviation Report and initiate CAPA.
6. Abbreviations
- BA/BE: Bioavailability/Bioequivalence
- ULOQ: Upper Limit of Quantification
- LLOQ: Lower Limit of Quantification
- XIC: Extracted Ion Chromatogram
- IS: Internal Standard
7. Documents
- Carryover Investigation Log – Annexure-1
- Carryover Evaluation Sheet – Annexure-2
- Carryover Deviation Report – Annexure-3
8. References
- ICH M10: Bioanalytical Method Validation
- FDA Guidance for Industry: Bioanalytical Method Validation
- EMA Bioanalytical Guidelines
9. SOP Version
Version: 2.0
10. Approval Section
| Prepared By | Checked By | Approved By | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | |||
| Date | |||
| Name | |||
| Designation | |||
| Department |
11. Annexures
Annexure-1: Carryover Investigation Log
| Date | Batch ID | ULOQ Response | Blank Response | Action Taken | Reviewed By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/04/2025 | BE-102 | 90543 | 1283 | Needle wash repeated | Sunita Reddy |
Annexure-2: Carryover Evaluation Sheet
| Injection Type | Analyte Area | IS Area | Criteria Met? | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blank after ULOQ | 1356 | 4125 | Yes | Within acceptable range |
Annexure-3: Carryover Deviation Report
| Date | Batch No. | Issue Description | Root Cause | CAPA Initiated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/04/2025 | BE-103 | Carryover beyond 20% LLOQ | Needle clog | Scheduled needle replacement |
Revision History:
| Revision Date | Revision No. | Details | Reason | Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2022 | 1.0 | Initial Release | New SOP | QA Head |
| 17/04/2025 | 2.0 | Added CAPA handling and dual rinse strategy | Audit Compliance | QA Head |