FACT Publishes Third Edition of the Common Standards for Cellular Therapies with a New Accompanying Accreditation Manual
The major objective of the FACT Common Standards for Cellular Therapies is to promote quality medical and laboratory practice in a broad range of cellular therapies. These Standards represent basic principles of quality in cellular therapy that can be applied to any cell source or therapeutic application throughout product development and clinical trials.
This third edition of Common Standards remains consistent with previous editions, requiring a comprehensive quality management plan and established clinical, collection, and processing procedures. Additionally, this edition reflects the maturation of cellular therapy and the inclusion of more and diverse products such as genetically modified products. Quality management requirements include specific training in good manufacturing practice appropriate to the products being collected or processed; development and review of robust written agreements with entities providing services or products; comprehensive document control; and expanded auditing, outcome analysis, and data management and reporting requirements.
“The revisions were focused on harmonization with other parallel FACT standards and on advances (real and anticipated) of novel cellular therapies that would be covered under the Common Standards,” according to Dr. Paul Eldridge, Chair of the Common Standards Committee.
In this edition, emphasis is also placed on the criticality of labeling and chain of identity / chain of custody as product manufacturing frequently involves several cooperating entities to achieve collection of the cellular starting material, manufacture of the final product, transport of the cells and products among facilities, and clinical therapy administration. Because of its value in accurate and unambiguous identification, encoding information, and labeling of medical products of human origin, full implementation of ISBT 128 coding and labeling is required where possible.
FACT is excited to announce the publication of the first Accreditation Manual to accompany the third edition Standards. Significant thanks is given to Dr. Carolyn Keever-Taylor for her work in drafting the initial document for the committee to review. The Accreditation Manual “provides a valuable tool for users to self-assess their compliance with the Standards and ensure that they are inspection ready,” Dr. Paul Eldridge.
The Common Standards Committee consists of 13 expert members. Members reviewed clinical, collection, processing, and quality requirements. Following months of reviews and revisions, comments were submitted during an open public comment period. The committee considered all feedback, which totaled almost 100 comments, submitted by professionals from industry, clinical, non-profit, and regulatory settings. Final revisions were drafted by the committee and approved by the FACT Board of Directors. The FACT leadership expresses its gratitude to the committee members for their dedication and work to revise this third edition.
The third edition Common Standards became effective on March 30, 2023. All organizations accredited under these Standards are now expected to be in compliance with the requirements. Compliance Applications and inspections under the Common Standards will now only be accepted for the third edition.
Third Edition Common Standards [free download]
Third Edition Common Standards Accreditation Manual [free download]
Purchase printed copies of Standards
Purchase printed copies of the Accreditation Manual
