Writing and Managing SOPs for GCP is the first book to discuss managing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) from conception to retirement. It recommends approaches that have a direct impact on improving SOP and regulatory compliance. Throughout the text, the book provides a user’s point of view to keep topics focused on the practical aspects of SOPs and SOP management.
The idea of specifically calling out approaches to SOP creation and maintenance in an effort to make it easier for users to stay in compliance is a theme found throughout all book chapters. Examples in each chapter provide accurate reflections of real-world experiences to illustrate the discussion. The book also includes an example "SOP of SOPs" along with an associated SOP template.
FOUNDING PRINCIPLES
Introduction to SOPs
What Is an SOP?
Why Do We Have SOPs?
Why Do We Follow SOPs?
Beyond SOPs
Say What We Do, Do What We Say
Document Hierarchies
Controlled Documents and Managed Documents
Overview of the Hierarchy
More about Controlled Document Types
More about Managed Document Types
Other Document Types
Hard-to-Classify Documents
SOP of SOPs
When to Have an SOP
Should It Be an SOP?
When an SOP Is Not Needed
Other Ways to Introduce Consistency
SOP of SOPs
What the SOP Should Say
Who, What, When, and Where
How and the Level of Detail
Cover One Topic or Many Topics?
Too Many or Too Few SOPs
SOP of SOPs
Where to Put the Output
What Is a Trial Master File?
Contents of a TMF
The TMF Connection to SOPs
Not All Documents Belong in the TMF
SOP of SOPs
WRITING, REVIEWING, APPROVING, AND POSTING
Who Writes SOPs?
Which Department Provides the Author?
Selecting an Author
Clinical Development’s Controlled Document Group
SOP of SOPs
Document A Stable Process
SOPs Should Not Be Theoretical
Testing a Procedure
When You Cannot Pilot
SOP of SOPs
Mapping a New Process
Assemble a Team
Review Regulatory Requirements
List Steps or Actions in the Right Order
Who Is Responsible? Who Is Involved?
Identify Inputs and Outputs
Be Aware of Sequence and Prerequisites
Translate the Process into an SOP
Stay Aligned with Any Approved Process Maps
SOP of SOPs
The SOP Template
Document Header
Purpose and Scope
Definitions and Background
Responsibility
Procedure
Document Disposition
References
Appendices
Revision History
Other Considerations
SOP of SOPs
SOP Review and Approval
Concentric Rings of Review
Best Practices for Review
Approval
How Long Does this Take?
Reviewing Documents from Other Departments
SOP of SOPs
Posting: Setting Up for Success
Is it Really Ready to Post?
Communication Plans
SOP Release Cut-Over Rules
Posting SOPs
SOP of SOPs
MAINTAINING SOPs; MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE
Deviations from Controlled Procedures
Retrospective Deviations
Prospective Deviations
Documenting Deviations
Deviations from Supporting Documents
Is It Really a Deviation?
SOP of SOPs
Active SOP Maintenance
The Environment Changes
Documents Change
Initiating an Update
Regular SOP Review
SOP of SOPs
HELPING STAFF FOLLOW SOPs
Finding SOPs
Controlled Document Identifiers
Internal Web Pages
Indexes
SOP of SOPs
Training on SOPs
Options for Training
Who Has to Train on Which SOPs?
Training Periods
Delta Training and Minor Releases
SOP of SOPs
Department-Managed Documents
Founding Principles
Writing, Reviewing, Approving and Posting
Maintaining Compliance
Helping Staff Use Department-Managed Documents
The Document on Department-Managed Documents
ADDITIONAL TOPICS
Where to Start
When the Company Is Virtual
Small Companies Taking on Activities
As the Company Continues to Grow
SOPs During Mergers and Acquisitions
At First
The Transition Period
Later
Trial Master Files
SOP on Acquisitions and Mergers?
Controlled Glossaries
Starting the Glossary
Role Names in the Glossary
Maintaining the Glossary
Using Glossaries
Example SOP Template
Example SOP of SOPs
Biography
Susanne Prokscha is a director in clinical data management for process and training at Onyx Pharmaceuticals in San Francisco, California. She has been involved in clinical data management (CDM) processes and technologies since the mid-1980s. Ms. Prokscha has worked both as a consultant and directly for large and small companies, gaining experience with a wide range of studies and a variety of clinical data management systems. Her interest in advancing the field of CDM and helping emerging CDM groups led her to write Practical Guide to Clinical Data Management. She currently focuses on process development, SOP writing, document management, and training for CDM and Biometrics groups.
"Writing and Managing SOPs for GCP miraculously transforms the boring floss of standard operating procedures into the interesting gold of…SOPs. A reader of this book will find it is hard to imagine managing SOPs without having read the book."
—Norman M. Goldfarb, in Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices, Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2016