he 5 steps of Equipment Qualification
Note:
The section "Equipment Qualification" is based mainly on the book "Validation and Qualification in Analytical Laboratories" by Ludwig Huber (ISBN:1-57491-080-9).
Equipment Qualification (EQ) is used as the umbrella term covering the first four steps that ensure an instrument is appropriate for its intended use. The user has the ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of results and for the qualification of his/her equipment.
EQ is broken down into:
Step 1: Design Qualification (DQ) defines the functional and operational specifications of a balance or instrument.
Step 2 :Installation Qualification (IQ) ensures that a balance or instrument is received as designed and specified. It documents the installation in the selected user environment.
Step 3: Operational Qualification (OQ) demonstrates that a balance or instrument will function according to its operational specification in the selected environment.
Step 4: Performance Qualification (PQ) demonstrates that a balance or instrument consistently performs according to a specification appropriate to its routine use.
Step 5: Maintenance Qualification (MQ) describes and documents any maintenance required on the equipment.
1. Design Qualification
Design Qualification (DQ) defines the functional and operational specifications of the instrument and details the conscious decisions made in the selection of the supplier. DQ should ensure that instruments have all the necessary functions and performance criteria that will enable them to be successfully implemented for the intended application and to meet user requirements.
The list below shows the recommended steps that should be considered for inclusion in a Design Qualification.
- Description of the analysis problem
- Description of the intended use for the equipment
- Description of theintended environment
- Preliminary selection of the functional and performance specifications (technical, environmental, safety)
- Preliminary selection of the supplier
- Final selection of the supplier and equipment
- Development and documentation of final functional and operational specifications
Vendor Qualification as part of DQ
As part of the design qualification process, the vendor should be qualified; the question is how should this be done? Is an established and documented quality system enough (e.g. ISO 9001), or should there be a direct audit?
The answer is that there may be situations where a vendor audit is recommended: for example, when complex computer systems are being developed for a specific user. However, this is rarely the case for balances and analytical instruments.
If equipment does not include a computer system, a good reputation, one's own experience or good references from other users - togetherwith ISO 9001 certification - can be sufficient.
2. Installation Qualification (IQ)
Installation Qualification establishes that the instrument is received as designed and specified, that it is properly installed in the selected environment, and that this environment is suitable for the operation and use of the instrument.
Before installation:
- Obtain manufacturer's recommendations for installation site requirements.
- Check the site for the fulfillment of the manufacturer's recommendations (utilities such as electricity, water and gases plus environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, vibration level and dust).
- Allow sufficient shelf space for the equipment itself, related SOPs, operating manuals, logbooks and software
3. Operational Qualification (OQ)
Operational Qualification (OQ) is the process of demonstrating that an instrument will function according to its operational specification in the selected environment. Before OQ testing is done, one should always consider what the instrument will be used for. Testing may be quite extensive if the instrument is to be used for all types of applications and where some of these place great demands on the performance of the system.
4. Performance Qualification (PQ)
Performance Qualification (PQ) is the process of demonstrating that an instrument consistently performs according to a specification appropriate to its routine use.
Important here is the word consistently. The test frequency is much higher than for OQ. Another difference is that PQ should always be performed under conditions that are similar to routine sample analysis.
PQ should be performed on a daily (or at least a weekly) basis, or whenever the instrument is used. The test frequency depends not only on the stability of the equipment but also on everything in the system that may contributeto the analysis results.
1. Define the performance criteria and test procedures.
2. Select critical parameters.
3. Define the test intervals.
5. Maintenance Qualification (MQ)
The MQ describes and documents any maintenance required on the equipment. This includes routine servicing and any repairs necessary. Details of any maintenance contracts are also