Alert and Action Level Set for Routine Monitoring Using 2 Sigma / 3 Sigma Method

GOOD VALIDATION PRACTICE (cGVP) PURIFIED WATER VALIDATION
1

Hi
During PQ phase 3 data assessment to set up the 3 tier control system (Alert/Action/Specification), we calculated a high standard deviation (Sigma). Therefore, while setting up 3 tier control (Alert Level=Average + 2 Sigma; Action Level: Average + 3 sigma) we found the action level is too high (even exceeds the Specification).

Can anyone advise how we can handle such situation? Is there anyway we can handle the spike data that leads to a high value of Sigma?

Thanks in anticipation.

Debasish

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You’re going to have to examine the data carefully and reduce sources that may influence a high sigma. This means mitigation (reduction) of the standard deviation. Microbial counts are not subject to normal gaussian distributions.

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I agree with Boomer that you need to reduce variability of the process (reduce Sigma). You said that you had a “spike data”. Do you have a cause for this spike?

You might be in for a long remediation process and re-validation. But you can help shorten the remediation process if you can identify the causes for your past upsets.

Remember validation is not done to get consecutive results - validation is done to show you know the process, and can put in in a controlled status reliably.

1 Like
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Did you test your samples in triplicate? By doing so you can determine the average (not the mean) and the %RSD (or SD). Thus, your sigma will be smaller and more representative of the sample population.

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Debasis,
The spikes in data could be Outliers. Check if tgey are outliers using a Boxplot and, if they are, do a study on those specic data time, operator etc. If you conclude, those outliers are not possible, then you can remove them from the data set and then calculate the Sigma ( standard deviation). You will have a reduced standard deviation tgat reflects fairly the process SD.

Another method is to sub-group the data with a sub-group size of 3 or more to get pooled standard deviation which is likely to represent the process’ SD more correctly.

Ari

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A high sigma and standard deviation also indicates that the analytical method or process to analyze or manufacture your drug product.