Atlas Blog

Expert-led insights on
FDA compliance

Insights on FDA inspections, compliance strategy, and regulatory intelligence from the Atlas team.

Medical device design controls under the QMSR: which design clauses FDA cited in 2026
Compliance

Medical device design controls under the QMSR: what FDA cites in 2026

Medical device design controls are the documented steps that turn user needs into a verified, validated device design. Since February 2, 2026, FDA enforces them through the QMSR and ISO 13485:2016 clause 7.3 instead of 21 CFR 820.30. This guide maps the old paragraphs to the new clauses, explains verification versus validation and the ISO 14971 risk link, covers what investigators ask for under Compliance Program 7382.850, and uses Atlas data on 389 device Form 483s from 2026 to show which design clauses FDA cites most.

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Computerized system validation: OQ audit trail tests inspectors check
Compliance

Computerized system validation: OQ audit trail tests for life sciences

Computerized system validation is the documented, risk-based evidence that a regulated computer system works as intended and keeps its data trustworthy. This guide covers the expectations in FDA's CSA guidance, Part 11, EMA and ICH E6(R3), a seven-step lifecycle, concrete OQ audit trail test cases, vendor and periodic review controls, and Atlas data on how often FDA cites computerized systems and data integrity.

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FDA 483 vs warning letter: the 15 working day response windows and what 4,584 Form 483s from 2025 show
Regulatory Intelligence

FDA 483 vs warning letter: who gets 15 working days to respond?

A Form FDA 483 is the investigator's list of observations at the close of an inspection. A warning letter is a formal advisory FDA issues later, after review, when it judges violations significant. This guide explains the 15 business day response window for each, how FDA escalates and closes out warning letters, what Atlas data on 4,584 Form 483s from 2025 shows, and how to write a response that survives verification.

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