Draft guidance for industry; container and closure integrity testing in lieu of sterility testing as a component of the stability protocol for sterile products; availability--FDA. Notice.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance entitled "Guidance for Industry: Container and Closure Integrity Testing in Lieu of Sterility Testing as a Component of the Stability Protocol for Sterile Products." The draft guidance is intended to provide recommendations and offer alternative methods for sterility testing to confirm the integrity of container and closure systems for sterile biological products, human and veterinary drugs, and medical devices. The draft guidance applies only to the replacement of the sterility test with an appropriate container and closure integrity test in the stability protocol, and it is not offered as a replacement for sterility testing for product release.