Good Clinical Practice Guide
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Thread: Is IRB/EC approval required for diagnostic testing sites?

  1. #1
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    Is IRB/EC approval required for diagnostic testing sites?

    Can somebody inform me as to whether an ethics committe approval is required for a diagnostic testing site? The company I work for only perform a testing service for the Sponsor conducting a phase III clinical study. We have no patient interaction and satisfy all patient confidentiality and identity requirements as part of the service we provide. All GCP requirements between ourselves and the Sponsor are agreed and documented in the Analytical Plan (i.e. sample management, informed consent etc)

    Thanks
    Adnaan

  2. #2
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    The MHRA guide (& other regulators guidance) state that clinical studies must be approved by the regulatory authority and an Ethics Committee (IRB/IEC). The Sponsor and/or the Investigator (or Chief Investigator) applies for this ethical approval. The protocol approved by the EC will detail what laboratory analytical work will be performed.
    MHRA GCP Guide advises that:- "The primary consideration for all types of laboratory work is that it must, be performed in accordance with the clinical protocol, GCP and the laboratory’s internal quality system". "Laboratories must only perform work that is detailed in the clinical protocol, a work instruction or the contract. ...It is important that there is a clear understanding between the sponsor and the laboratory on the nature of the work that will be performed .... ensure that the planned procedures are covered by the informed consent obtained from the trial subjects or their legal representatives".

    EMA guidance EMA/INS/GCP/532137/2010 states that with regard to agreements between sponsors and laboratories:- "It is also appropriate to ensure these agreements comply with local legal regulatory and ethical requirements, and again that there are no conflicting terms". Also "The laboratory should seek assurance from the sponsor that the additional work does not conflict with the requirements of the clinical trial protocol, compromise the informed consent given by the trial subjects or impact on the ethics committee approval and/or the authorisation given by the competent authority".

    So the sponsor should be able to supply you with assurance that the work undertaken by your laboratory has been approved by an ethics committee.

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