Standard Operating Procedure for Regulatory Inspection at Clinical Site in BA/BE Studies
Department | BA-BE Studies |
---|---|
SOP No. | SOP/BA-BE/123/2025 |
Supersedes | SOP/BA-BE/123/2022 |
Page No. | Page 1 of 10 |
Issue Date | 17/04/2025 |
Effective Date | 20/04/2025 |
Review Date | 17/04/2026 |
1. Purpose
To establish a standardized and compliant procedure for managing regulatory inspections at clinical trial sites conducting Bioavailability/Bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies, ensuring full preparedness, transparency, and proper follow-up.
2. Scope
This SOP applies to all clinical site personnel, sponsor representatives, and QA staff involved in regulatory inspections conducted by authorities such as CDSCO, US FDA, EMA, MHRA, or other agencies at BA/BE study
sites.
3. Responsibilities
- Quality Assurance Head: Acts as the inspection coordinator and is responsible for audit readiness and response management.
- Principal Investigator: Responds to scientific and protocol-related queries during inspection.
- Clinical Trial Manager: Coordinates logistics, documentation, and access to study records.
- Document Control Officer: Provides controlled copies of requested documents and maintains tracking.
4. Accountability
The Site Director or Facility Head is accountable for ensuring successful inspection readiness, document availability, and compliance with all applicable regulatory standards.
5. Procedure
5.1 Pre-Inspection Preparedness
- Maintain an inspection readiness checklist (Annexure-1) reviewed monthly by QA.
- Ensure the Trial Master File (TMF) and Investigator Site File (ISF) are complete and updated.
- Conduct mock audits every six months and document findings in Annexure-2: Mock Audit Report.
- Ensure key staff are trained on GCP, protocol, SOPs, and inspection handling procedures.
5.2 Inspection Announcement
- Upon notification of inspection:
- Inform sponsor and QA immediately
- Assign Inspection Coordinator and Support Team
- Prepare Annexure-3: Inspector Visit Plan
5.3 Hosting the Inspection
- Prepare dedicated inspection room with:
- Working internet and printer access
- Log of documents accessed (Annexure-4)
- Ensure only pre-verified staff interact with inspectors.
- Provide requested documents promptly with control tracking.
- Maintain daily briefing logs (Annexure-5).
5.4 Responding to Observations
- Review observations (Form 483, NAI, VAI, or EIR formats).
- Draft Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) plan in response to findings (Annexure-6).
- Submit response within agency-specified timelines (e.g., 15 days for FDA).
- Track implementation of CAPA and close documentation formally.
5.5 Post-Inspection Activities
- Hold debriefing meeting with staff and sponsor to discuss outcomes.
- Archive all inspection-related documents securely in TMF/ISF.
- Update site readiness plan based on lessons learned.
6. Abbreviations
- BA: Bioavailability
- BE: Bioequivalence
- QA: Quality Assurance
- TMF: Trial Master File
- ISF: Investigator Site File
- CAPA: Corrective and Preventive Action
- CDSCO: Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
- FDA: Food and Drug Administration
7. Documents
- Inspection Readiness Checklist – Annexure-1
- Mock Audit Report – Annexure-2
- Inspector Visit Plan – Annexure-3
- Document Access Log – Annexure-4
- Daily Briefing Log – Annexure-5
- CAPA Response Template – Annexure-6
8. References
- ICH E6(R2) – Good Clinical Practice
- CDSCO Inspection Guidelines
- FDA Investigator Operations Manual
- EMA Clinical Trial 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: Inspection Readiness Checklist
Area | Compliance Status | Remarks |
---|---|---|
ISF completeness | Compliant | All documents filed |
Annexure-2: Mock Audit Report
Date | Auditor | Findings | Action Taken |
---|---|---|---|
10/04/2025 | QA Head | Labeling delay | Retraining completed |
Annexure-3: Inspector Visit Plan
Date | Agency | Contact Person | Coordinator Assigned |
---|---|---|---|
18/04/2025 | CDSCO | Mr. R. Sharma | Rajesh Kumar |
Annexure-4: Document Access Log
Date | Document Accessed | Requested By | Issued By | Returned |
---|---|---|---|---|
18/04/2025 | CRF BE-121 | Inspector | Sunita Reddy | Yes |
Annexure-5: Daily Briefing Log
Date | Topics Discussed | Attendees | Key Actions |
---|---|---|---|
18/04/2025 | Day 1 Findings | Site + QA | Prepare CAPA draft |
Annexure-6: CAPA Response Template
Observation | Root Cause | Corrective Action | Preventive Action | Responsible |
---|---|---|---|---|
Late SAE reporting | Inadequate training | Immediate notification SOP revised | Annual refresher training | CRA |
Revision History:
Revision Date | Revision No. | Details | Reason | Approved By |
---|---|---|---|---|
01/01/2022 | 1.0 | Initial Release | Regulatory Compliance | QA Head |
17/04/2025 | 2.0 | Added inspection logistics, briefing, and tracking formats | Internal Review | QA Head |