← 483 OBSERVATION EXPLORER

FDA 483 OBSERVATION · #17 OF 1,000 MOST-CITED

Scientifically sound laboratory controls

FDA cited this observation 857 times across 735 firms in recent inspections. Below: how it breaks down by program area and fiscal year, and real examples of how FDA worded it on Form FDA 483.

BY PROGRAM AREA
Drugs857
BY FISCAL YEAR
FY202649
FY2025112
FY202496
FY202363
FY202268
FY202138
FY202040
FY2019103
FY201893
FY201797
FY201698

What this observation is associated with

Firms cited for this observation also appear in FDA compliance actions — warning letters, injunctions, or seizures — at 4.6× the rate of the average FDA-cited firm (35.4% vs 7.7%), across 735 FEI-matched firms.

This is an association, not causation, and reflects co-occurrence in FDA's records — not a claim that the observation caused or preceded the action.

CHECKING ACCESS

Checking your Professional access…

How FDA worded it — real examples

Laboratory controls do not include the establishment of scientifically sound and appropriate specifications, standards, sampling plans and test procedures designed to assure that components, drug product containers, closures, in-process materials, labeling and drug products conform to appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality and purity.

SGS North America Inc. · Fairfield, New Jersey · Drugs · 2026-06-09

Laboratory controls do not include the establishment of scientifically sound and appropriate standards designed to assure that conform to appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality and purity.

Belmar Labs, LLC · Golden, Colorado · Drugs · 2026-05-20

Laboratory controls do not include the establishment of scientifically sound and appropriate standards and test procedures designed to assure that in-process materials conform to appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality and purity.

Unither Manufacturing LLC. · Rochester, New York · Drugs · 2026-05-15

Laboratory controls do not include the establishment of scientifically sound and appropriate specifications designed to assure that components conform to appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality and purity.

Canyon Rush, LLC · Rush, New York · Drugs · 2026-05-15

Laboratory controls do not include the establishment of scientifically sound and appropriate specifications and test procedures designed to assure that components and drug products conform to appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality and purity.

PPL Healthcare LLC · Sellersville, Pennsylvania · Drugs · 2026-05-08

Laboratory controls do not include the establishment of scientifically sound and appropriate test procedures designed to assure that drug products conform to appropriate standards of identity, strength, quality and purity.

Microchem Laboratory · Richardson, Texas · Drugs · 2026-04-30

Related SPEQ references

Where to read the requirements behind this observation area on SPEQ. These are SPEQ's topic and audience pages — not an FDA classification of the citation.

Pharma industry

Examples are a representative sample of FDA's published inspection observations. SPEQ is not affiliated with the FDA; this is a reference view of public FDA data.

Weekly Briefing

Get the Weekly GxP Briefing

Curated regulatory intelligence — enforcement, recalls, guidance, and quality signals — in one practitioner-grade email each week. Free.

Read a past issue →