1. Cleaning validation is an important aspect of the pharmaceutical industry to prevent contamination and cross-contamination. It provides documented evidence that approved cleaning procedures adequately clean equipment for subsequent use.
2. Regulatory agencies like the FDA require cleaning validation under cGMP regulations to prevent issues like product contamination that could impact safety, identity, strength, quality or purity.
3. Contaminants that can be left behind if not properly cleaned include residues from previous products, cleaning agents, microbes, and breakdown products from cleaning chemicals or products themselves. Thorough cleaning validation helps ensure all contaminants are removed.