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PDA Technical Glossary

PDA Technical Reports are highly valued membership benefits because they offer expert guidance and opinions on important scientific and regulatory topics and are used as essential references by industry and regulatory authorities around the world. These reports include terms which explain the material and enhance the reader’s understanding.

The database presented here includes the glossary terms from all current technical reports. The database is searchable by keyword, topic, or by technical report. Each definition provided includes a link to the source technical report within the PDA Technical Report Portal.

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Technology Transfer

Metadata (MHRA)

Metadata is data that describe the attributes of other data and provide context and meaning. Typically, these are data that describe the structure, data elements, inter-relationships and other characteristics of data. It also permits data to be attributable to an individual (or if automatically generated, to the original data source).(TR80)

Source: TR 80: Data Integrity Management System for Pharmaceutical Laboratories

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Quality Risk Management/QRM Technology Transfer

Metadata (FDA)

The contextual information required to understand data. A data value is by itself meaningless without additional information about the data. Metadata is often described as data about data. Metadata is structured information that describes, explains, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage data.(TR80)

Source: TR 80: Data Integrity Management System for Pharmaceutical Laboratories

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Quality Risk Management/QRM Technology Transfer

Method, Quantitative

An analytical procedure that yields numerical results compared to quantitative specification(s). (TR57)

Source: TR 57: Analytical Method Validation

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Method, Qualitative

An analytical procedure, based on the characteristics of a material that yields results that are not amenable to reliable enumeration. (TR57)

Source: TR 57: Analytical Method Validation

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Minimum Acceptable Cycle (MAC)

The minimum cycle conditions (in terms of delivered minimum lethality or minimum time and temperature) that would be considered acceptable. (TR01) (TR61)

Source: TR 1: Validation: Moist Heat

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Sterile Processing Technology Transfer

Mixed Load

A load that contains multiple item item types representing various sterilization challenges. For example, some load items may have air removal challenges, while others pose a challenge due to their mass. (TR01)

Source: TR 1: Validation: Moist Heat

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Sterile Processing Technology Transfer

Method Validation

A formal, archived demonstration of the analytical capacity of an assay that provides justification for use of the assay for an intended purpose. (TR56) A formal, archived demonstration of the analytical capacity of an assay that provides justification for use of the assay for an intended purpose. Validations are conducted prospectively according to a written, approved plan that states acceptance criteria. (TR57) (TR57-2)

Source: TR 56: Phase Appropriate cGMP Application

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Matrix

The combination of materials (e.g., excipients, stabilizer components, etc.) which are components together with the measured analyte. (TR57)

Source: TR 57: Analytical Method Validation

GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Validation Technology Transfer

Method Parameter

Any factor or method operational step that can be varied continuously (e.g., flow rate) or specified at controllable unique levels (e.g., Gas Chromatograph liner type).

Source:

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Method Lifecycle

All stages in the life of a method, from the initial development through marketing, until the method’s discontinuation. (TR57-2)

Source: TR 57-2: Analytical Method Development

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Mass Spectroscopy

An analytical test method for identifying the chemical composition of a sample by separating its gaseous component ions according to their mass and charge. (TR26)

Source: TR 26: Sterilizing Filtration of Liquids

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Validation Technology Transfer

Matrix Effect

The direct or indirect alteration or interference in response due to the presence of additional sample components due to sample preparation (for analysis) or other interfering substances in the sample (product related excipients or residuals). (TR57) (TR57-2)

Source: TR 57: Analytical Method Validation

GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Validation Technology Transfer

Manufacturing

The production, packing, testing, storage, release and distribution of drugs or medical devices for use in humans or animals where the manufacturing is indented to produce doses, typically in significant numbers, for an undefined population of future patients or clinical trial subjects. (TR63) All operations including purchasing and receipt of materials to production, packaging, labelling, quality control, release, storage, distribution of components and the related controls. (TR 76)

Source: TR 63: Clinical Trials Material Preparation

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Outsourcing Packaging Science Supply Chain Technology Transfer

Method Development

A process that involves the selection, optimization, and qualification of a physical/chemical, biological, molecular, or microbiological test procedure. (TR57)

Source: TR 57: Analytical Method Validation

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Master Seed Stock

Reference culture of a microorganism derived from an authenticated source such as American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and used to produce working seed lots. (TR51)

Source: TR 51: Biological Indicators

Biotechnology Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Validation Quality Risk Management/QRM Supply Chain Technology Transfer

Master Cell Bank (mCb)/Master Virus Bank (mVb)

A stock of cells or virus used to produce the Working Cell Bank or the Working Virus Bank. Cell/virus banking is used to enhance biological consistency. (TR47)

Source: TR 47: Virus Spikes/Virus Clearance

Virus Biotechnology Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Validation Quality Risk Management/QRM Technology Transfer

Method Qualification

Formal or informal study performed to assess initial method performance prior to full ICH Q2 (R1) validation; assessment activity that culminates in a scientifically sound method that has an acceptable level of performance and is documented to be suitable for its intended use. (TR56) Experimental studies performed to confirm the inherent performance capabilities of a test method for the material being analyzed and the intended use of the method. Method qualification can be performed during early development phases, prior to method validation. Specific method qualification characteristics (e.g., accuracy, specificity) should be confirmed based on the intended use of the analytical method and the relevant risk(s). (TR57)

Source: TR 56: Phase Appropriate cGMP Application

Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Microbiology Validation Technology Transfer

Master Cell Bank (MCB)

The MCB represents a collection of cells of uniform composition derived from a single source prepared under defined culture conditions. (TR 54-4) The MCB represents a collection of cells of uniform composition derived from a single source prepared under defined culture conditions, aliquoted into multiple vials, cryopreserved and stored in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen. (TR 83)

Source: TR 54-4: QRM: Biotech Drug Substance

Biotechnology Manufacturing GMP/Good Manufacturing Processes/cGMP Validation Quality Risk Management/QRM Technology Transfer