Workshop for Pharma QA Pros: OOS Investigations for Testing Labs

Are you a pharmaceutical quality assurance professional seeking to strengthen your expertise in out-of-specification (OOS) investigations within testing labs? This critical area of QA can be challenging yet essential for ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance.

Join us on November 14, 2024, for a comprehensive workshop on mastering OOS investigations explicitly designed for professionals like you.

Why This Workshop Is Essential

OOS results are a top priority for regulatory authorities. When test results fall outside predefined specifications, it’s not simply a “red flag” but a call for immediate and thorough investigation to maintain product integrity and regulatory compliance. Effective OOS investigations are integral to a lab’s quality management system, helping prevent recurring issues and improving overall quality control processes.

However, conducting these investigations requires unique skills, from performing detailed root cause analyses to documenting findings and implementing corrective and preventative actions (CAPA). This pharma QA workshop has been designed to cover the full spectrum of these skills, providing insights into best practices for OOS investigations and the latest regulatory guidelines.

Effective OOS investigations are key to a lab’s QMS after Pharma QA training.

AAPS’ Pharma QA Workshop Overview

The OOS Investigations workshop offers hands-on training for QA professionals, lab analysts, and regulatory specialists, equipping them with a structured approach to confidently manage OOS results and ensure compliance. Topics covered in the session include:

• Introduction to OOS Investigations:  
• Definitions and FDA’s guidelines on handling OOS results.
•  A look at real-world regulatory observations and the expectations placed on testing labs.

• Quality Documentation required to support OOS investigations 

• Documentation is a cornerstone of any QA process. Learn the key documentation practices that support successful OOS investigations, from initial results to final reports.

• Investigating OOS results

• This phase involves a preliminary examination to understand if the OOS result is valid. Participants will gain insights into protocols for hypothesis testing, remeasurement, retesting, and resampling.

Pharma QA professionals gain a structured approach to manage OOS results effectively.

• Root Cause Analysis and Laboratory Errors  
• Learn to pinpoint the cause of OOS results through hands-on root cause analysis exercises, addressing common lab errors, and taking the guesswork out of troubleshooting.

• Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA) 

• Minimize future OOS occurrences by understanding how to develop and apply effective CAPA strategies tailored to specific investigation findings.

• Concluding OOS Investigations and Reporting Results

• Wrap up the investigation process with clear, accurate reporting practices. This section emphasizes the importance of concluding investigations focusing on transparency and regulatory readiness.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will leave the quality assurance training workshop with a strong foundation in OOS investigations, including the following skills:

• Regulatory Compliance: Gain a comprehensive understanding of FDA guidelines and international standards, enabling you to apply them confidently within your lab setting.

• Conducting Effective OOS Investigations: Learn how to accurately execute investigations, document findings, and determine when further testing is necessary.

• Quality Documentation and Reporting: Build expertise in creating and reviewing essential quality documentation that supports regulatory requirements and maintains laboratory compliance.

• Corrective and Preventative Actions: Develop the skills to design and implement CAPA based on your OOS findings, enhancing your lab’s proactive quality assurance efforts.

Participants leave the QA workshop with a solid foundation in OOS investigations.

Who Should Attend?

This pharma QA workshop is tailored for Directors, Managers, Supervisors, Laboratory Analysts, and Associates working in GMP environments. If you’re in Quality Assurance, Technical Writing, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, or Analytical Laboratory settings, this course offers valuable tools and insights that directly apply to your work.

Register by November 7, 2024 to secure your place in this practical, interactive workshop. Each participant will receive a certificate of attendance, solidifying their new skills in OOS investigations—a valuable addition to your professional toolkit. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your lab’s quality standards, ensure compliance, and confidently navigate OOS investigations.

Are you interested in a Quality Assurance Diploma?

Contact AAPS for more information.