21 CFR Part 58 · Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies

§ 58.33 Study director

Subpart B - Organization and Personnel Official text on eCFR Amendment history

For each nonclinical laboratory study, a scientist or other professional of appropriate education, training, and experience, or combination thereof, shall be identified as the study director. The study director has overall responsibility for the technical conduct of the study, as well as for the interpretation, analysis, documentation and reporting of results, and represents the single point of study control. The study director shall assure that:

(a) The protocol, including any change, is approved as provided by § 58.120 and is followed.

(b) All experimental data, including observations of unanticipated responses of the test system are accurately recorded and verified.

(c) Unforeseen circumstances that may affect the quality and integrity of the nonclinical laboratory study are noted when they occur, and corrective action is taken and documented.

(d) Test systems are as specified in the protocol.

(e) All applicable good laboratory practice regulations are followed.

(f) All raw data, documentation, protocols, specimens, and final reports are transferred to the archives during or at the close of the study.

Independent copy, not an official legal edition. 21 CFR is a U.S. Government work in the public domain; this text comes from the eCFR and the annual CFR edition, and may lag recent amendments. The authoritative version is on ecfr.gov. Compliome is not affiliated with or endorsed by FDA. Not legal advice.

What FDA inspectors cite under § 58.33

Form FDA 483 observations citing this section, fiscal years 2010–2026 (Bioresearch Monitoring).

  • Study director: unforeseen circumstances 2
  • Study director: follow study protocol 1

Warning letters citing § 58.33

13 FDA warning letters since 2017 cite this section ; the most recent:

FDA guidance that cites § 58.33

Amendment history

Federal Register documents that created or amended this section.