A procedure for assessing a contract testing facility: one sponsor's perspective.

The government agencies responsible for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) place accountability for assuring compliance of studies intended for submission on the sponsor. An initial step toward meeting these legal obligations includes a comprehensive assessment of the candidate testing facility. Literature review has substantiated that the initial evaluation may be best accomplished through both technical and compliance-focused inspections (O'Brien-Pomerleau, 1991; Schroeder, 1989).