Glossary

Laboratory Controls

Controls that establish scientifically sound specifications, standards, sampling plans, and test procedures so that materials from components to finished products can be judged against them.

Source · 21 CFR Part 211, Subpart I Laboratory Controls, §211.160(b)

Details

This is the title of the subpart in the United States regulation that gathers the testing requirements together, so individual laboratory failures are cited under this name. Most findings use the standard sentence that scientifically sound and appropriate specifications, standards, sampling plans, and test procedures were not established, followed by the absence of the quality control unit review and approval required by 211.160(a), or by records not made at the time of performance. What is examined is not whether the result passed but on what basis the specification was set and who approved it.

Related sections

Related terms

Real inspection findings

Findings from regulators' inspection documents in which this term appears.

  1. Specifically, your firm has not established laboratory controls that include appropriate final specifications for testing and release of your products to assure that each batch conforms to appropriate standards of identity and purity during routine production.
    FDA · FDA Warning Letter · 2024-06-18
  2. Your firm failed to establish adequate laboratory controls including microbiological testing and…
    FDA · FDA Warning Letter · 2022-12-06
  3. Your firm also failed to establish laboratory controls that include scientifically sound and appropriate specifications designed to ensure conformance with appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality, and purity.
    FDA · FDA Warning Letter · 2025-09-16
See 320 findings whose text contains this term

Counted as of 2026-09-24 — the search you land on shows today's figures, so it may differ slightly.

Source

21 CFR Part 211, Subpart I Laboratory Controls, §211.160(b)

GRM Regulatory Glossary

243 GMP terms in one place

Each term is explained in plain language with its official source. Look it up here whenever you meet a term you don't know.

Browse the whole glossary
Weekly Newsletter

New GMP inspection findings, every Monday

Every Monday we email the week's new inspection records from the FDA, EMA, Health Canada and MFDS, with a short summary of the week's regulatory news. We'll also let you know when the site gains new features. Unsubscribe any time with one click.

See recent findings first

Sent every Monday · a confirmation email follows when you subscribe · unsubscribe from the footer of any email.