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CLEANING VALIDATION
Document No. :
Version No. : 09
Issued by (sign/date) :
CIRCULATION LIST :
APPROVAL LIST
Name Department Designation Signature/date
Prepared By
Reviewed By
Approved By
1.0 PURPOSE:
To lay down a procedure to prove that the equipment cleaning procedure can
consistently clean the previous product, cleaning agent (if any), and microbial
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
2.0 SCOPE:
This SOP is applicable for validating cleaning procedures followed for process
equipment and accessories used in manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY:
3.1 Production:
3.1.1 Cleaning of equipment and accessories as per respective SOP.
3.2 Quality Assurance:
3.2.1 Preparation of the cleaning validation protocol
3.2.2 Sampling and data compilation
3.3 Maintenance:
3.3.1 Equipment surface area calculation
3.4 Quality Control/Microbiology:
3.4.1 Microbial sampling & Analysis of samples
4.0 ACCOUNTABILITY:
Head QA, QC & Production shall be accountable for the implementation of systems
and procedures.
5.0 PROCEDURE:
5.1 Definitions:
5.1.1 Cleaning Validation: It is a validation program to verify that the process and
procedures used to clean product residue from process equipment and components
will consistently and significantly reduce the amount of active and /or excipients and
cleaning agents to a concentration within calculated acceptance limits.
5.1.2 Worst case: A product or set of conditions encompassing the upper and lower
processing limits for operating parameters and circumstances with SOP which pose
the greatest chance of product or process failure when compared to ideal conditions.
Such conditions do not necessarily include product or process failure
5.1.3 Worst case product: The product selected from a group of products that represents
the greatest risk of carry-over contamination to other products made in the same
equipment by virtue of its poor solubility, potency, and toxicity, or a combination of
these factors
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
5.3.1.3 Purified water shall be used as a final rinse for equipment, to be used in the
production of non-sterile products.
5.3.1.4 WFI shall be used as the final rinse for equipment to be used in the production of
sterile products.
5.4 Collection of samples for chemical and microbial analysis:
5.4.1 Swab Sampling:
5.4.1.1 Strongly preferred method, as some residues may need a mechanical or physical
action to remove from the surface.
5.4.1.2 Most of the equipments shall be swabbed for at least 1-5 locations, depends on
equipment size, accessibility and compliance.
5.4.1.3 For cleaning validation swab sample shall be collected for chemical/microbiological
analysis from the locations specified as per the sampling locations.
5.4.1.4 Before collection of swab sample visual inspection of the equipment shall be done to
check the cleanliness.
5.4.1.5 Selection of sample position shall be based on difficult to clean surface area.
5.4.1.6 Swab sample shall be collected from (approximate 25 sq.cm) 5x5 sq.cm.
5.4.1.7 The recommended direction and motions used in actual swabbing of an area as
shown below.
5.4.1.8 Swabbing is done in painting motion across the surface, first applying the swab in a
vertical motion, and then applying the swab (after rotating it 90°) in a horizontal
motion with the reverse surface of the swab.
Vertical swabbing Horizontal swabbing
______5cm______ ______5cm______
5.4.1.9 Recommended swab sampling procedures ensure complete residue pick up from the
defined surface area.
5.4.1.10 If the surface area is less than 25 sq. cm, complete surface area should be swabbed.
5.4.1.11 The swab sample will be taken after the final rinse of the equipment surface, which
is hard to clean. Swab locations shall be determined based upon logic and practical
approach.
5.4.1.12 In pipes, do the swabbing in a circular motion from the outer edge to the inner
surface in the clockwise direction and return the swabbing in a similar procedure. i.e.
from inside to outside in an anti-clockwise direction. For calculation retain the area
of 25 cm2.
Prepared By (sign/date) Reviewed By (sign/date) Approved By (sign/date)
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
5.4.1.13 Stainless steel/ Teflon/ Silicon/ PVC etc templates shall be used for determining the
surface area of the swab, or eyeball method be practiced and validated for each
sampling personals.
Note: Ensure that micro swab samples are collected prior to the chemical
swab sample
5.4.2 Rinse sampling:
5.4.2.1 Collect the rinse sample of each equipment involved for manufacturing after final
cleaning as per the approved sampling plan.
5.4.2.2 The final rinse sample shall be collected in a way that the sample representative of
the entire rinse volume.
5.4.2.3 Withdraw about 100 ml rinse volume for active ingredient from the final rinse for
measurement of the active ingredient and cleaning agent used, from the equipment
part.
5.4.3 Refer individual sampling plan of different equipment’s parts to be sampled (as per
cleaning validation protocol).
5.4.4 Microbial swab samples shall be collected prior to a chemical swab sample.
5.4.5 The Selection of solvent for a swab, if other than water shall be based on the
solubility of the active ingredient.
5.4.6 The cleaning of the equipment (CIP and COP) shall be done in all the three validation
runs by different operators to verify the ruggedness of the cleaning procedure.
5.4.7 Labelling and storage of samples:
5.4.7.1 Label each swab and rinse sample appropriately
5.4.7.2 The rinse sample shall be stored in an amber color bottle and swab sample
inappropriately covered glass test tube or vial with proper labeling so as to prevent
contamination or alteration during storage.
5.4.7.3 Microbial swab samples shall be store in the sterile well-closed test tubes with
proper labelling.
5.4.8 Visual evaluation of cleaning:
5.4.8.1 Visually inspect the final rinsed equipment/each part of the equipment to ensure that
it is clean, clear and colourless before sampling.
5.4.8.2 Use a torch, mirror, etc. for verification of cleanliness wherever direct access of area
is not possible.
5.4.8.3 Production/QA personal assessing visual cleanliness shall be trained for observing
and identifying drug substance at low-level concentration.
5.4.8.4 Training shall be provided by subjecting officers to review and identify the drug
substance residue at a lower level which is generated by spotting solutions of lower
concentration (at LOD level) on all MOC involved in equipment cleaning,
performed during recovery studies conducted by the laboratory for method
validation of the analytical method.
Prepared By (sign/date) Reviewed By (sign/date) Approved By (sign/date)
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
5.4.24 Swab sampling site shall not be repeated and re-swabbing shall not be done from the
same location of equipment where the swab sample is already collected before.
5.5 Microbial aspects of cleaning validation:
5.5.1 Bioburden study of equipment shall be performed, after cleaning/sanitization to
ensure microbiological cleanliness.
5.5.2 Check visually no stagnant water shall be allowed to remain in the equipment
subsequent to cleaning operation.
5.5.3 Equipment should be dry before storage by an appropriate method of drying as per
SOP or allow all the water to drain from the equipment and its parts.
5.6 Establishment of Acceptance Criteria:
The limits for Acceptance Criteria shall be decided based on factors such as batch
size, therapeutic dosage, solubility, toxicology, and equipment surface area.
The limit for cleaning validation’s acceptance criteria shall be established following
four criteria.
5.6.1 Criteria 1 (Dose Criteria):
5.6.1.1 NMT 0.1 % of the normal therapeutic dose of any product will appear in the
maximum daily dose of the next product. OR
5.6.1.2 Not more than 0.001 part of the minimum dose of the previous preceding product
should appear in the maximum daily dose of the next considered product.
5.6.1.3 Dose criteria shall be calculated by the following formula.
Where,
STD : Smallest therapeutic dose in mg of product
0.001 : Safety factor
25 cm2: Swab surface area
MDD: Maximum daily dose in mg of product
TSA : Total equipment surface area
Mini B. size: Minimum batch size of the next product
Where,
I = 0.001 of the minimum dose of previous product in the equipment chain in mg
Prepared By (sign/date) Reviewed By (sign/date) Approved By (sign/date)
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
Toxicity table:
Probable oral lethal dose for Included descriptive terms Group
humans (mg/kg)
>15000 & 5000 – 15000 Practically non toxic Slightly toxic 1
500 – 5000 Moderately toxic 2
50-500 Very toxic 3
5 – 50 Extremely toxic 4
>5 Super toxic 5
5.6.4 Criteria 4 (Visually clean criteria):
5.6.4.1 No quantity of residue should be visible with naked eyes on the equipment after the
cleaning procedure is performed.
5.6.4.2 The scientific rationale for the above statement is:
Most of the product is visible to a normal human eye at approximately 100 µg
per 25 cm2 of surface area.
Generally, below this level, the residues are not visible to the human naked
eye.
5.6.5 The most stringent value from the above four criteria shall be considered as
acceptance criteria for cleaning validation including visual criteria.
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
5.7.2 Worst case product on the basis of least therapeutic dose (Potency):
5.7.2.1 The product having maximum potency possess maximum health hazard if
contaminated in other product.
5.7.2.2 The product having the least therapeutic dose is considered to be most potent and use
for the establishment of acceptance criteria.
5.7.2.3 Perform the cleaning validation studies with the selected worst-case product on the
identified equipment chain for three consecutive runs.
5.8 Analysis and evaluation of results for rinse and swab sample:
5.8.1 Analyse the swab and rinse sample in the laboratory using a validated analytical
method.
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
5.8.2 Apply recovery factor (obtained from validation study) for calculating the content, if
the same is found less than 100%. If recovery is obtained more than 100%, do not
apply factor for calculation.
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
method like HPLC/GC etc or increasing cell length in case of UV methods from 1
cm to 4/5 cm path length cell.
If the above modification does not provide a limit of detection lower than the
acceptance criteria established, a new method to be developed, which can achieve
the required lower detection concentration. In case of modification, the method
should be revalidated
More surface area can be considered for swabbing (for example 100 sq. cm).
In the case of rinse sampling, the volume of sample rinse can be decreased
resulting in an increase in the residue concentration and hence can be easily
detected
If the swabbing area is modified, acceptance criteria also need to be corrected and
recalculated with the revised area
When no methods can compliance the required acceptance criteria then LOD may
be taken into consideration for acceptance criteria and calculation purposes.
If the cleaning procedure consistently reduces the contaminants to a level within
the limit of acceptance criteria, then the procedure being followed for cleaning can
be regarded as validated.
5.8.4 Calculation of the amount of residue present in rinse and swab:
5.8.4.1 Rinse method:
Content/residue of previous product in the rinse is reported in ppm by QC.
It should be converted into milligram by multiplying the QC result with the
quantity of rinse in Kg (i.e. quantity of water for final rinsing in Kg).
The resultant value is the residue of previous product/s in milligram from entire
equipment/part of equipment cleaned.
For possible contamination per 25 sq. cm in the next considered product, the
resultant value is multiplied by 25 and divided by surface area of the
equipment/part of the equipment cleaned.
Example:
The residue of the previous product (from QC) = 2.58 ppm
Quantity of final rinse for equipment/equipment parts = 5 kg
Content/residue of previous product in mg = 2.58×5 = 12.9mg
Possible contamination in next considered product per 25 sq. cm = 12.9 x 25
9500
= 0.034 mg/25 cm2
2
Where 9500 cm is the surface area of the equipment/part of the equipment.
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
5.8.8 But if the equipment with maximum surface area is removed then only total surface
area shall be revised and thereafter the acceptance criteria may be revised (lower than
existing) but revalidation is not required.
5.8.9 If the equipment which has the minimum surface area than existing is introduced in
the facility and the same equipment with maximum surface area and same cleaning
procedure (validation) still is in the area then not required for validation or not
required to revise the surface area of equipment in the chain due to worst-case study.
5.8.10 But if the equipment which has the maximum surface area than existing is introduced
in the facility then the total surface area shall be revised accordingly and assessment
shall be made for cleaning validation result for acceptance criteria and actually carry
over to the next product during cleaning validation
5.8.11 If the actual carryover is more than the new acceptance criteria, the cleaning
validation study shall be planned on three consecutive batches.
5.8.12 If one equipment chain has products which are common for another equipment chain,
and if the surface area of the former is greater than the later
5.8.13 Then validation of the worst case of the former equipment chain will also justify the
cleaning validation of the later, even the worst-case product of both the chains does
not match.
5.8.14 The statement can be justified as if worst-case products of the worst equipment chain
(having maximum surface area) are validated successfully
5.8.15 Then the worst-case products of any other equipment chain (lower surface area) need
not be validated separately
5.8.16 Provided the worst list of the worst chain includes products of other chains also and
cleaning procedure is the same for equipment used in both chains.
5.8.17 This because, the worst product is already considered in the worst chain, and is being
validated.
For Example:
Consider chain 1 having products A, B, C, D, E, and F in its product list and
among which products A and C are the worst cases.
Similarly chain 2 has products B, D, E, and F in its product list and among which
products B and E are the worst cases.
In the surface area chain, 1 is greater than chain 2 and if products A and C are
validated in chain 1, then the cleaning procedure will stand validated in chain 2
also, even if products B and E are not validated in chain 2.
This can be justified as although products B and E are not validated in chain 1,
still, the same cleaning procedure is effective in cleaning products more worst than
the above products (A and C).
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
Note: If cleaning procedures are different, worst products in the equipment chain,
the worst-case shall be validated.
5.8.18 Whenever the introduction & deletion of equipment and products following
document shall be updated but not limited to:
Equipment matrix
Product matrix with their solubility profile
MAR calculation sheet
5.8.19 A regular validation review must be established to maintain the validated status of the
cleaning procedure
5.8.20 Carry out re-validation in case of a change in equipment (if not identical and surface
area is more than the existing and actual validated result is more than the new
acceptance criteria), changes in established cleaning method, the introduction of the
new worst-case product (May not be required if the assessment is satisfactory on the
existing worst-case actual result and new worst-case acceptance criteria).
5.9 Periodic cleaning re-validation:
5.9.1 If no cleaning validation required or not done on the next worst-case within a years
then revalidation shall be carried out on existing worst in the frequency of one year
5.9.2 Whenever worst-case products to be planned for manufacturing.
6.0 ABBREVIATIONS:
SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
QA - Quality Assurance
ICH - International Conference on Harmonization
LOD - Limit of Detection
LOQ - Limit of quantification
HPLC - High-performance liquid chromatography
MACO - Maximum allowable carry-over
7.0 REFERENCE:
WHO Technical Report Series 937, 14
European Commission
APIC A sector group of CEFIC
8.0 ANNEXURES:
F/QA/001/01.08
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Quality Assurance
CLEANING VALIDATION
9.0 HISTORY:
F/QA/001/01.08