Quality Assurance

Chapter 29. Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Daniel C. Harris, 6th Edition, 2003.

New to this edition and a very important topic in industry today.

GLP/GMP in the pharmaceutical industry. Other quality standards ISO, CE and other quality systems.

Data Quality

How do we know that we have done a good job in lab? We are well trained scientists so we should be doing good work.

Are We???? This is where Quality Assurance comes in. It will vary from lab to lab but it should be

something that is taken very seriously.

Why has this become so important?

Let us look at the next three examples There are many testing labs that one

can have analyses done at. Let’s see how they do.

Pb in polyethylene film (lab self designation)

Pb in River Water (all having a quality management system)

Pb in River Water (National Measurement Institutes)

QC / QA

Quality Control – measures taken ensure that there is accuracy and precision in an analytical result

Quality Assurance – Assessment that the quality standards have been met.

Quality Control

In Pharmaceuticals this is usually the process of verifying the product quality. That the products meets specification. That the label claim is correct. ( 1 mg table) That impurities are below certain limits That raw materials are in manufacturer

specs That returned materials are within specs

Quality Control

Governed by detailed procedures. Called SOPs – Standard Operating Procedures There will be SOPs for 1) Equipment

maintenance and repair, 2) Method Development and Validation, 3) Data tracking and record keeping, 4) Computer validation and data issues, 5) Setting of shelf life and other lab management issues, 6) Staff training requirements, 7) chain of custody of samples etc. etc. etc.

The real issue is record keeping and adherence to the procedures of the lab.

Quality Assurance

An independent function within the company to assure that the QC functions are working properly.

They hold routine audits and internal inspections.

They will be the staff that host visits from the FDA and coordinate the FDA site visit (every two years)

They are inspected first

GLP / GMP Good Laboratory and Good

Manufacturing Practices. Other agencies have different rules.

EPA will certify labs doing environmental tests. Many of these tests are specified and must be followed exactly

Quality Objectives

When rules are changed this might require that better methods be developed.

Perhaps with better detection limits or improved precision.

One must work to get the best information from the resources at hand.

Quality Objectives

It is not required that the best possible analysis be carried out. Only that it provide the data required, meet the data quality objective.

Cost considerations of course are important here. This must be considered when developing new methods such as new HPLC methods.

Method Validation

The process of proving that the analytical method is acceptable for the intended purpose. (Issues to addressed)

Specificity Linearity Accuracy Precision Range Limit of detection Limit of quantization Robustness

Specificity

The ability to distinguish the analyte from everything else that might be in the sample.

Lets look at a separation for the drug Cefotaxime by MEKC.

S

NNH2

NH

N

O

CH3

O

N

S

O

OH

O O

O

CH3

Specificity

The drug is seen with the impurities that might show up in an assay. Ideally you should get baseline

resolution. This is when R > 1.5. Failing this you might state that the

unresolved impurities at their maximum level not effect the assay of the drug by more than 0.50%

A impurity assay might be specified with all expected impurities > 0.1% be resolved from the major component.

Specificity

Just were do you get the impurities to test? What is likely to be present in a drug formulation of bulk

substance sample? For a compound like aspirin this is fairly simple. We

know what things to expect since it has been around for a long time. What about an NCE?

This is not a trivial challenge. Make impurities.

Subject the compound to heat (solid phase), heat (in solution), light, humidity, acidic media, basic media and oxidants to the point of consuming about 20% of the parent.

Add Synthetic starting materials, by-products, synthesis intermediates and known synthesis degradation products.

Add all expected excipients.

Linearity

For bulk component you will want you standard curve to have five standards spanning 0.5 to 1.5 expected range. Include a blank

For impurity assay you will wish you standards to span 0.05% to 2% (wt/wt). Given that impurities might fall in the 0.5% to 1% range.

These ranges would be fixed in the SOP for the developed analysis and based on the product specification.

Linearity Testing

We have discussed this. R2 is a poor measure as we have stated

before. Look at residuals For zero intercept

Bulk assay - 2% from the target value of the analyte

Impurity assay – 10% of the target value of the impurity.

Accuracy

Analyze – Standard Reference Materials (if available)

Results of two or more different analytical methods.

Blank sample spiked with analyte. Ranges as in linearity.

Standard additions. Spikes should be recovered at (100 + 2)% for

major components and 0.1% absolute or + 10% relative for minor components

Precision

Expressed as relative standard deviations for at least 10 experiments. Instrument precision (< 1%) Intra-assay precision – prep each sample

from start, same person, same day. (< 2%) Intermediate precision (Ruggedness) –

Different people, different days and different instruments.

Interlaboratory precision is also called just reproducibility (3% to perhaps 40% or more)

Horwitz Trumpet

Horwitz Trumpet

)log5.01(2(%) CCV

Where C is the weight fraction

Range

The range is the concentration interval where linearity, accuracy and precision are all acceptable.

Limits of Detection and Quantitation

Also called the lower limit of detection. Smallest quantity that gives a signal

significantly different from the blank. This term had lead to much

disagreement and controversy.

Finding the detection limit.

Prepare a sample that is 1 to 5 larger than the estimated detection limit.

Measure the signal for n replicate analyses (n > 7.

Calculate s for this data set. Measure the signal from n replicate

analyses of the blank. (n > 7) Calculate the mean value. (yblank)

Finding the detection limit.

ydl = yblank + ts Where t is the Student’s t value for degrees

of freedom at 98% confidence. This gives you the signal detection limit.

Concentration Detection Limit. Minimum detectable concentration =

(ts)/slopecalib

Limit of Quantitation

We can find the analyte at this low end but it would be difficult to quantify it accurately so we have another term Limit of Quantitation. yloq = yblank + 10s

Limit of Detection (Alternate way)

Common shortcut ydl = yblank + 3s

From Least Squares Line. Signal detection limit ydl = b + 3sy

Other consideration

Instrument detection limit Method detection limit

Reporting Limit

A level below which you may report not detected. Regulatory specified. This level might be different in different

matrix systems.

Robustness

The ability for a method to be unaffected by small changes. Solvent composition pH Buffer concentration Temperature Injection volume Detector wavelength Shelf life of solutions used

Quality Tracking

SOP directs how you keep an assay under control.

Directs how samples are handled and stored.

Will dictate how and when the method should be checked.

Analytical Standards

Can be purchased from NIST. Must be handled with care. Care should be taken with matrix effects. Compound used to make up solutions

should have no analyte. Elemental purity measured on nines scale.

Four nines is 0.9999 pure. Only in terms of other metal and not other contaminants.

Standards

You may elect to purchase NIST traced certified solutions.

There are many pitfalls to avoid and many are discussed on page 732.

Blanks

Analysis of blanks can be very informative. Will detect carry over.

Method Blank – all steps except addition of analyte.

Field Blank – all steps including being taken to the field.

Quality Control Samples

A sample that is known and analyzed along with the rest of the samples and standards.

Blind samples are best.

Collaborative and round robin testing will help assess analysis proficiency.

Control Charts.

Plot the results for a process or an analytical procedure. (with your quality control samples).

When do you shut down.

Single observation outside action lines 2 out of 3 consecutive measurements between

the warning and action lines 7 consecutive measurement all or above the

center line 6 consecutive measurements all increasing or

decreasing 14 consecutive measurements alternating up

and down An obvious nonrandom pattern.