data integrity

Data integrity is fundamental to comply with current good manufacturing practices (CGMP) and ensure patient safety. Unsurprisingly, quality control (QC) lab data are heavily scrutinized during audits as they directly support the quality, safety and efficacy of the product, and indicate the state of control of a facility. Most QC labs have worked hard to establish the fundamentals of data integrity. Many have digitized to eliminate paper, some systems have compliance features built in, and a series of mitigations and workarounds cover the rest, albeit with some inefficiencies and limitations. There have also been significant evolution of systems and business practices, rising expectations for efficient and thorough investigation capability, and the desire to go beyond compliance and get knowledge and insights through better access to data. Next steps in data integrity are key to the QC lab of the future and the digital maturity of the manufacturing capability as a whole.