FDA issues electronic trial data guidance to support accuracy

[b]The FDA has issued guidance on electronic data in clinical trials to help eliminate duplication, reduce transcription errors and promote real-time entry.

Increased computer use in clinical trials creates problems because data can be easily copied, transferred, changed or deleted without obvious evidence. To help ensure accurate, original and attributable data is available for clinical review and site inspection guidance has been issued .

Data entry is the focus of the majority of the guidance. In the guidance the FDA identifies two types of data: information generated at a study visit and entered directly into electronic case report forms (eCFR); and elements transcribed from a source document, such as a lab report.

When looking into information entered directly into eCRFs the FDA may request documents to corroborate the data. For transcribed data the FDA says source documents should be kept and made available, if requested, to inspectors.

Complying with these, and a number of other, recommendations in the guidance should help ensure data is traceable. These measures ensure electronic information can be “traced through complex data capture, transmission and archival processes” for regulatory purposes. [/b]

Regards


FDA DRAFT.pdf (166.3 KB)