BIOTECH LABORATORY PRACTICE - WHAT IS GLP?

The term 'good laboratory practice' has numerous meanings depending on whether you are a laboratory research organisation, sponsor or regulatory authority. Clients of laboratories will often request that their work be done using 'good laboratory practice'. Organisations will often claim that they are working 'under glp'. Regulatory authorities and other agencies responsible for registering and controlling chemicals and pharmaceuticals may request that a laboratory demonstrate that data included in a registration package for a new chemical have been gathered using 'good laboratory practice'. They may also require that organisation to be 'certified' (or accredited) by a third party for 'GLP'. It is therefore important that all interested parties understand what is meant by this term and what to look for when a 'GLP' facility is required or claimed.