Microbiology Quality Control Seminar to Assist Medical Device Manufacturers Validate Sterilization, Cleaning Processes

A seminar on microbiology quality control — designed to help medical device manufacturers validate sterilization and cleaning processes, and maintain controlled environments — will be held on Thursday, May 16, in Boston.

“For today's medical device manufacturers, the challenge is to validate their sterilization and cleaning processes to ensure patient safety and product integrity. This seminar will focus on a host of issues pertaining to the sterilization of medical devices including sterilization validation, bioburden, sterility, and endotoxin testing, as well as submitting samples to a contract testing laboratory,” said Steven Richter, Ph.D., president and scientific director of Microtest Laboratories, which is hosting the event.

Topics at the “Microbiology Quality Control Seminar” will include:

• MICRO 101
• Sterilization Validation
• Bioburden Testing
• Sterility Testing
• Endotoxin Testing
• Testing Sample Submissions

The event will be held at the MIT Endicott House in Boston, Mass., on Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration is 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. A networking reception and lunch are included.

To register, download the form from http://www.microtestlabs.com/pdfs/seminar-registration-form_1305.pdf. Or, contact Julie Adamski at Microtest Laboratories by phone at 1-800-631-1680, ext. 192, or by email at jadamski@microtestlabs.com. The registration fee is $149.

The event is one in a series of technical seminars and workshops for medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers presented by Microtest Laboratories, a Mass.-based, FDA-audited company with a history of exceptional regulatory compliance.

About Microtest Laboratories

Microtest Laboratories is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company provides expertise and flexible processes that enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680. Follow Microtest Laboratories on Twitter @MicrotestLabs at http://twitter.com/MicrotestLabs.

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New White Paper Details What Compounding Pharmacies Must Know to Prepare for FDA Inspections

In anticipation of new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, many companies are working toward correcting potential problems and attaining USP <797> compliance. A new white paper addresses the issues that compounding pharmacies must address prior to undergoing an FDA or state inspection. Titled, “Compounding Pharmacy Inspections: What You Must Know to Prepare for the FDA,” it is available to download at http://www.microtestlabs.com/whitepaper from Microtest Laboratories.

“The FDA requires all compounding pharmacies to comply with USP section <797>, which outlines the different standards and regulations for environmental control, testing, and personnel training. Currently, the operations of large-scale compounders do not fall under the scrutiny and regulation of the FDA. However, these facilities may now face inspections from both the state regulatory authorities and the federal government,” said white paper author Steven Richter, Ph.D., president and scientific director of Microtest Laboratories — and a former FDA official.

In the white paper, Dr. Richter advises compounding pharmacies on the critical issues to resolve prior to an FDA or state inspection, including sterile compounding regulations, quality testing, sterility testing of compounded articles, disinfectant validations, and endotoxin testing.

“In the aftermath of the NECC case, FDA and state actions regarding compounding pharmacies are relatively certain: regulations and inspections will both tighten and increase. The FDA, in some instances, will assume the role of lead auditor for the compounding pharmacy’s operations,” Dr. Richter said. “It is critical for compounding pharmacies to maintain a state of control in their controlled environments. While there may always be excursions, it is the actions that are undertaken after the excursions that will influence an inspector’s responses and observations during an on-site investigation and inspection.”

Download a copy of “Compounding Pharmacy Inspections: What You Must Know to Prepare for the FDA,” at http://www.microtestlabs.com/whitepaper. Or, request a copy by calling Microtest Laboratories 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

Microtest Laboratories is a Massachusetts-based, FDA-audited company with a history of exceptional regulatory compliance. Microtest Labs’ environmental sciences group helps clients maintain control of their controlled environments and is a proven resource for contamination testing needs arising from the manufacturing of medical devices or pharmaceuticals, as well as sterile compounding in hospital pharmacies.