Was betrifft es? Warum ist das wichtig?

Upon study termination all essential and other relevant quality documents are archived. This is essential to reconstruct the study at some later date.

 

To retain access to archived documents is the only reliable mean to verify that:

 

Note: Retention periods vary between ICH GCP, European regulations, and national laws. When conflicting requirements exist, the longest retention period will apply.

Mehr

In Switzerland the required archiving periods are for:

The SP-INV:

  • Clinical trials with Medicinal Products (including organ/tissue/cell transplantation and other clinical trials):
    • Until the expiry date of the last delivered batch but at least 20 years after trial completion/termination
  • Clinical investigations with Medical Devices and in Vitro Diagnostic Devices (IVD):
    • Until the expiry date of the last manufactured device/series but at least 10 years after completion/termination
    • Implantable medical devices: At least 15 years after completion/termination

The Site-INV:

  • Clinical trials with Medicinal Products (including transplantation studies and other clinical trials):
    • At least 20 years after completion/termination
    • Blood/blood product transplant trials: At least 30 years after completion/ discontinuation
  • Clinical investigations with Medical Devices or IVD studies:
    • At least 10 years after completion/termination

 

Implantable Medical Devices: At least 15 years after completion/termination.

Was muss ich befolgen?

A a SP-INV:

  • Ensure appropriate archiving facilities for both short and long-term archiving
  • Make a list of documents to be archived. Establish an archiving index for ease of retrieval at some later date
  • Define documents that must remain archived at participating study sites (e.g. participant identification logs)
  • Write an archiving SOP
  • Ensure study sites comply with the SOP and the required archiving period
  • Notify the study site when records are no longer needed. Include required destruction procedures (e.g. destruction certificate)

 

As a SP-INV and Site-INV ensure that during the entire archiving period:

  • Documents (electronic and hard/paper copies) remain legible.
  • Document transfers to another medium are validated (e.g. certified copies)
  • Only authorised personnel retain access to the archive 
  • The removal and retrieval of archived documents is recorded
  • Premises are protected against fire, humidity and rodent infestation

 

In the event of an audit or inspection ensure archived documents are made readily available upon request.

Wo kann ich Hilfe anfordern?

Your local Research Support Centre can assist you with experienced staff regarding this topic

  • Basel, Departement Klinische Forschung (DKF), dkf.unibas.ch

  • Lugano, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU-EOC), ctueoc.ch

  • Bern, Department of Clinical Research (DCR), dcr.unibe.ch

  • Geneva, Clinical Research Center (CRC), crc.hug.ch

  • Lausanne, Clinical Research Center (CRC), chuv.ch

  • St. Gallen, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), h-och.ch

  • Zürich, Clinical Trials Center (CTC), usz.ch

References

ICH GCP E6(R2) – see in particular guidelines

  • 5.5 Trial management, data handling, and record keeping
  • 5.5.6 Data retention

Swiss Law

ClinO – see in particular article

  • Art, 18 Storage of data and biological material
  • Art. 45 Data retention

ClinO-MD – see in particular

  • Art. 40 Data retention requirements

HRO – see in particular article

  • Art. 5 Storage of data and biological material

Transpantation Act (TPA) – see in particular article

  • Art. 35 Mandatory archiving

 

Abkürzungen
  • ClinO – Clinical Trials Ordinance
  • ClinO-MD – Ordinance on Clinical Trials with Medical Device
  • CSR – Clinical Study Report
  • CTU – Clinical Trials Unit
  • EC – Ethics Committee
  • FOPH – Federal Office of Public Health
  • HRO – Human Research Ordinance
  • ICH GCP – International Council for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice
  • IMD – Investigational Medical Device
  • IMP – Investigational Medicinal Product
  • ISO – International Organization for Standardization
  • Site-INV – Site-Investigator
  • SOP – Standard Operating Procedures
  • SP-INV – Sponsor-Investigator
Completion ↦ Quality and Risk ↦ Archiving ↦ Study Records
Study
Basic

Provides some background knowledge and basic definitions

Basic Monitoring
Concept

Starts with a study idea

Ends after having assessed and evaluated study feasibility

Concept Statistic Methodology
Concept Drug or Device
Development

Starts with confidence that the study is feasible

Ends after having received ethics and regulatory approval

Development Drug or Device
Set-Up

Starts with ethics and regulatory approval

Ends after successful study initiation

Set-Up Ethics and Laws
Set-Up Statistic Methodology
Set-Up Quality and Risk
Set-Up Drug or Device
Conduct

Starts with participant recruitment

Ends after the last participant has completed the last study visit

Conduct Statistic Methodology
Conduct Drug or Device
Completion

Starts with last study visit completed

Ends after study publication and archiving

Completion Drug or Device
Current Path (click to copy): Completion ↦ Quality and Risk ↦ Archiving ↦ Study Records

Please note: the Easy-GCS tool is currently under construction.