Category Archives: Training

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What Makes An Objectionable Organism in 2020?

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Introduction

I wrote the first version of this article in 2014 based on training I developed in 2006.   I have updated and reviewed the content to ensure it remains relevant in 2020.

When testing non sterile products, as well as allowed numbers of microbes, there are certain types of microbes that are specified in the regulations as not allowed and still others that can de deemed to be objectionable.

If you work as a microbiologist where you test total microbial aerobic counts (TMAC), total yeast and mould counts (TMYC) and for specific microbes or conduct investigations into the nature of microbes and what impact they may have on the product and the end user, this presentation will benefit you. I will teach you the the following:

  • What makes a specified organism
  • What makes an objectionable organism
  • How to determine if a microbe is objectionable
  • Risk assessment considerations
  • The benefits of knowing the differences between specified & objectionable organisms

Continue reading →

About 20% of (FDA) Recalls are Due to Microbial Contamination.

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As of March 4 2020, 16 of the last 50 recalls by the FDA for pharmaceutical products were due to microbial contamination or a lack of  sterility assurance.  Another 27 were due to impurities with 5 more due to mislabeling.  Looking at TGA recalls for 2019, around half of the medicine recalls due to contamination were the result of microbial contamination. Continue reading →

Developing My Writing While Helping Others

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I am a microbiologist with over 15 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical realm. I have a strong interest in regulatory compliance and developing others. Recently I have been working closely with data security. I have an arty streak, have been a work place trainer and have an affinity for computers.

Lately I’ve been thinking of ways to share my knowledge with others outside of my cycling and science blogs and have decided to write 12 LinkedIn posts over 12 months. I will limit the post size to between 500 and 1000 words (1-2 A4 pages). Continue reading →

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Quality Assurance – How to Apply Scientific Principles to Troubleshooting

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My work called for presenters on a wide range of topics, both work and non work related. I put my hand up to deliver a talk on something drawn from my background as a scientist. After some thinking I came up with “Quality Assurance – How to Apply Scientific Principles to Troubleshooting”. I thought that would be a good topic as that’s the main thing I do in my current role and I did a lot of it in my old roles. I thought I would be able to impart knowledge to help others examine and solve their problems. Project mangers might find it useful. Software developers might find it useful. Athletes might find it useful. Continue reading →

Policy vs Standard Operating Proceedure vs Operator Instruction

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What follows will form part of a post tentatively titled “GMP Technical Writing”. The larger post will incorporate aspects of Writing Technical Reports and The Need for Documentation and detail the hierarchy of documents within a Quality Management System, what information goes where and how to conduct business process mapping. I’m tossing up on whether to present this as a series of posts or as some sort of presentation style document (pdf or Powerpoint). Continue reading →

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Microbiology For Non Microbiolgists

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I have experience developing training and presenting it to small to medium sized groups. Part of this process involves determining the way in which to present the training. Once such way to use some form of visuals in support of speaking. For my Microbiology for Non Microbiologists course, I used Microsoft Powerpoint.

Duration of Session:

  • 60 minutes x1, followed by 10 minutes x1 (display style).  Include practical component.
  • Number of attendees: 5-10.  Can be presented to up to 30.

Continue reading →

Antibiotic Assays

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A brief history of the antibiotic assay

The quantitative use of zones of agar made inhibitory to the growth of one microorganisms by diffusing substances produced by another organism was in use at least as early as 1885 (Analytical Microbiology, Kavanagh, 1963). The first official assays of penicillin were carried out in 1943. Publication of the theoretical aspects involved was published by Cooper and Woodman in 1946 in Pathological Bacteriology. The antibiotic assay used by pharmaceutical companies is primarily the agar plate diffusion assay. Some products that are a mixture of polymers may have a specific monograph stating that they must be assayed by a turbidimetric method. Such an example is Gramicidin. Continue reading →

Writing Technical Reports

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What is technical writing?

Technical writing is a style of writing used when preparing protocols, reports, investigations and other laboratory documentation.

What are some examples of technical documents?

In general, any regulated manufacturing site will use the following technical documents: validation documents, reports, Standard (Operating) Procedures, SOP’s and Work/Operator Instructions (OI’s), standard forms and overriding policies and a Site Quality Manual all within the framework of a Quality Management System (QMS), Continue reading →