Expert view: Tools for compliance with 21 CFR Part 11

21 CFR Part 11 refers to the section in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that sets forth the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidelines on using electronic records and electronic signatures. The regulation applies across a range of regulated industries including pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and food products (human and veterinary). Companies in these segments doing business in the U.S. are providers of raw materials and components to pharmaceutical companies and contract labs commissioned to perform analysis and must all operate to ensure electronic records and electronic signatures are trustworthy and reliable.

The regulation requires the organisation to have three levels of control in place: administrative controls, such as policies for electronic records; procedural controls, such as SOPs for using the system; and technical controls for the functions built into the software that ensure the reliability and integrity of electronic records and signatures. The software can be designed to facilitate compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 technical controls; however, the laboratory personnel are responsible for providing policies and procedures and ensuring their proper use, and ensuring their process is compliant with the regulations.

The CytExpert v2.3 Electronic Record Management system, available for the CytoFLEX flow cytometer platform, has been designed to facilitate compliance with 21 CFR Part 11. CytExpert v2.3 is a password‑protected software that controls the instrument’s operation, safeguards data integrity control using checksum and audit trails, and provides document control using signatures, signature hierarchy and archiving.