Skip to content
Clinical Research Made Simple

Clinical Research Made Simple

Trusted Resource for Clinical Trials, Protocols & Progress

  • Home
  • Audit Findings
    • General Audit Findings in Clinical Trials
    • Investigator Site-Level Audit Findings
    • Sponsor & CRO-Level Audit Findings
    • Trial Master File (TMF) & eTMF Audit Findings
    • Informed Consent Audit Findings
    • Safety Reporting Audit Findings
    • Data Integrity & EDC Audit Findings
    • GCP Training & Compliance Audit Findings
    • Clinical Trial Supply & IMP Audit Findings
    • Ethics Committee / IRB Audit Findings
    • CAPA & Inspection Readiness Audit Findings
    • Case Studies & Trends in Audit Findings
  • Audits, CAPA & Deviations
    • CRO Audit Oversight
    • CAPA Management in CROs
    • Deviation Handling in CROs
    • Inspection Readiness for CROs
    • Data Integrity & Systems Oversight
    • Training & Quality Culture in CROs
  • SOPs for GCP
    • Global SOPs (Applicable to all Agencies)
    • SOP for IDE/Device
    • FDA — Unique SOPs (United States)
    • EMA — Unique SOPs (European Union)
    • CDSCO/DCGI – Unique SOPs (India)
    • WHO – Unique SOPs
    • ICH – Unique SOPs
    • MHRA — Unique SOPs (United Kingdom)
    • Health Canada — Unique SOPs (Canada)
    • PMDA — Unique SOPs
    • TGA — Unique SOPs
    • NMPA — Unique SOPs
    • ANVISA — Unique SOPs
    • Swiss Medic — Unique SOPs
    • Medsafe/HDEC — Unique SOPs (New Zealand)
  • US Regulatory Submissions
  • Toggle search form

SOP for Chain of Identity & Chain of Custody (Cell/Gene)

Posted on October 2, 2025 digi By digi

SOP for Chain of Identity & Chain of Custody (Cell/Gene)

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Article”,
“mainEntityOfPage”: {
“@type”: “WebPage”,
“@id”: “https://www.clinicalstudies.in/sop-for-chain-of-identity-and-chain-of-custody-cell-gene”
},
“headline”: “SOP for Chain of Identity & Chain of Custody (Cell/Gene)”,
“description”: “This SOP establishes procedures for maintaining chain of identity and chain of custody in cell and gene therapy clinical trials. It ensures compliance with FDA, EMA, CDSCO, WHO, and ICH GCP/GMP requirements, covering traceability, custody, product handling, and regulatory oversight.”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “ClinicalStudies.in”
},
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “ClinicalStudies.in”,
“logo”: {
“@type”: “ImageObject”,
“url”: “https://www.clinicalstudies.in/logo.png”
}
},
“datePublished”: “2025-08-26”,
“dateModified”: “2025-08-26”
}

Published on 21/12/2025

Standard Operating Procedure for Chain of Identity & Chain of Custody (Cell/Gene)

SOP No. CR/OPS/111/2025
Supersedes NA
Page No. 1 of 52
Issue Date 26/08/2025
Effective Date 01/09/2025
Review Date 01/09/2026

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Purpose
  • Scope
  • Responsibilities
  • Accountability
  • Procedure
  • Abbreviations
  • Documents
  • References
  • Approval Section
  • Annexures
  • Revision History

Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to define the processes required to

maintain Chain of Identity (CoI) and Chain of Custody (CoC) for cell and gene therapy products used in clinical trials. These processes ensure traceability, product integrity, subject safety, and regulatory compliance from collection through administration and follow-up.

Scope

This SOP applies to sponsors, investigators, CROs, laboratories, GMP manufacturing facilities, couriers, and site staff involved in ATMP (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product) clinical trials. It covers sample collection, labeling, custody transfers, product tracking, custody documentation, and archival of records.

See also  SOP for Paediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) Obligations Tracking

Responsibilities

  • Sponsor: Oversees CoI/CoC processes and ensures regulatory compliance.
  • Investigator: Ensures subject-specific identity verification at site level.
  • GMP Facility: Maintains manufacturing custody records and certificates of analysis.
  • CRO: Monitors CoI/CoC compliance across sites and vendors.
  • Courier: Maintains custody during product transportation.
  • QA: Audits CoI/CoC logs for accuracy and completeness.

Accountability

The Sponsor’s ATMP Quality Lead is accountable for overall compliance with Chain of Identity and Chain of Custody procedures. The Investigator is accountable for subject-level verification prior to administration.

Procedure

1. Chain of Identity (CoI)
1.1 Assign unique subject-specific identifiers at time of collection.
1.2 Verify identifiers at each step: collection, processing, manufacturing, and administration.
1.3 Document in Chain of Identity Log (Annexure-1).

2. Chain of Custody (CoC)
2.1 Record all custody transfers from collection through manufacturing, shipment, storage, and administration.
2.2 Use controlled custody forms signed by transferring and receiving personnel.
2.3 Maintain records in Chain of Custody Log (Annexure-2).

3. Custody Transfer
3.1 At each transfer, verify subject identifier, product batch/lot number, and condition.
3.2 Document signatures, date, and time for both transferring and receiving parties.

4. Manufacturing and Quality Control
4.1 GMP facility verifies CoI before initiating processing.
4.2 Issue Certificate of Analysis linked to subject-specific identifiers.

See also  SOP for Change Control Management

5. Shipment and Storage
5.1 Use validated containers and cold-chain requirements.
5.2 Record shipment details in Custody Transfer Log (Annexure-3).

6. Administration at Site
6.1 Prior to administration, Investigator verifies subject identifier against CoI records.
6.2 Document in Site Administration Log (Annexure-4).

7. Archiving
7.1 Archive all CoI/CoC records in TMF and ISF.
7.2 Retain per global ATMP regulations (minimum 25 years in some regions).

Abbreviations

  • SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
  • CoI: Chain of Identity
  • CoC: Chain of Custody
  • ATMP: Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
  • QA: Quality Assurance
  • CRO: Contract Research Organization
  • GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice
  • TMF: Trial Master File
  • ISF: Investigator Site File
  • FDA: Food and Drug Administration
  • EMA: European Medicines Agency
  • CDSCO: Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
  • WHO: World Health Organization

Documents

  1. Chain of Identity Log (Annexure-1)
  2. Chain of Custody Log (Annexure-2)
  3. Custody Transfer Log (Annexure-3)
  4. Site Administration Log (Annexure-4)

References

  • FDA – Cellular & Gene Therapy Oversight
  • EMA – ATMP Guidelines
  • CDSCO – Cell & Gene Therapy Regulations
  • ICH GCP – ATMP Trials
  • WHO – ATMP Chain of Custody Recommendations

Version: 1.0

Approval Section

Prepared By Ravi Kumar, ATMP Specialist
Checked By Sunita Reddy, QA Officer
Approved By Dr. Anil Sharma, Head Clinical Operations

Annexures

Annexure-1: Chain of Identity Log

Date Subject ID Sample ID Verified By Status
01/09/2025 S101 S101-C1 Site Coordinator Verified
See also  SOP for Emergency IND (eIND) Requests and Management

Annexure-2: Chain of Custody Log

Date Product ID Transferred From Transferred To Signature
02/09/2025 S101-C1 Collection Site Courier Signed

Annexure-3: Custody Transfer Log

Date Product ID Location Responsible Condition
03/09/2025 S101-C1 Manufacturing Facility Technician Acceptable

Annexure-4: Site Administration Log

Date Subject ID Product ID Verified By Administered By
05/09/2025 S101 S101-C1 Investigator Study Nurse

Revision History

Revision Date Revision No. Revision Details Reason for Revision Approved By
26/08/2025 00 Initial version New SOP creation Head Clinical Operations

For more SOPs visit: Pharma SOP

SOP for GCP, SOP for IDE/Device Tags:ATMP trial SOP, CDSCO ATMP trials, cell therapy chain of identity, chain of custody SOP, chain of identity SOP, EMA ATMP oversight, FDA chain of custody guidance, gene therapy chain of custody, SOP for autologous product identity, SOP for cellular product custody, SOP for chain of custody logs, SOP for CRO oversight of cell/gene trials, SOP for gene therapy custody, SOP for GMP-GCP interface, SOP for identity verification ATMP, SOP for long-term ATMP custody compliance -->, SOP for patient-specific product tracking, SOP for product release ATMP, SOP for regulator inspection ATMP, SOP for sample tracking, SOP for sponsor oversight ATMP, SOP for traceability in ATMPs, WHO ATMP governance

Post navigation

Previous Post: Clinical Supply Chain Challenges in the UK
Next Post: Transparency of Results in EU Clinical Trials Register

Quick Guide – 1

  • Clinical Trial Phases (7)
    • Preclinical Studies (25)
    • Phase 0 (Microdosing Studies) (6)
    • Phase 1 (Safety and Dosage) (66)
    • Phase 2 (Efficacy and Side Effects) (54)
    • Phase 3 (Confirmation and Monitoring) (70)
    • Phase 4 (Post-Marketing Surveillance) (79)
  • Regulatory Guidelines (71)
    • U.S. FDA Regulations (14)
    • CDSCO (India) Guidelines (11)
    • EMA (European Medicines Agency) Guidelines (17)
    • PMDA (Japan) Guidelines (1)
    • MHRA (UK) Guidelines (1)
    • TGA (Australia) Guidelines (1)
    • Health Canada Guidelines (1)
    • WHO Guidelines (1)
    • ICH Guidelines (12)
    • ASEAN Guidelines (11)
  • Country-Specific Clinical Trials (254)
    • Clinical Trials in USA (51)
    • Clinical Trials in China (49)
    • Clinical Trials in EU (51)
    • Clinical Trials in India (51)
    • Clinical Trials in UK (51)
    • Clinical Trials in Canada (1)
  • Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development (106)
    • Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) (11)
    • Adaptive Trial Designs (10)
    • Crossover Trials (10)
    • Parallel Group Designs (11)
    • Factorial Designs (11)
    • Cluster Randomized Trials (11)
    • Single-Arm Trials (10)
    • Open-Label Studies (11)
    • Blinded Studies (Single, Double, Triple) (11)
    • Non-Inferiority and Equivalence Trials (8)
    • Randomization Techniques in Crossover Trials (1)
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Compliance (78)
    • GCP Training Programs (11)
    • ICH-GCP Compliance (11)
    • GCP Violations and Audit Responses (11)
    • Monitoring Plans (11)
    • Investigator Responsibilities (11)
    • Sponsor Responsibilities (11)
    • Ethics Committee Roles (11)
  • Clinical Research Operations (44)
    • Study Start-Up Activities (9)
    • Site Selection and Initiation (10)
    • Patient Enrollment Strategies (13)
    • Data Collection and Management (10)
    • Monitoring and Auditing (1)
    • Study Close-Out Procedures (0)
  • Site Management and Monitoring (72)
    • Site Feasibility Assessments (20)
    • Site Initiation Visits (10)
    • Routine Monitoring Visits (10)
    • Source Data Verification (12)
    • Site Close-Out Visits (10)
    • Site Performance Metrics (10)
  • Contract Research Organizations (CROs) (55)
    • Full-Service CROs (11)
    • Functional Service Providers (FSPs) (10)
    • Niche/Specialty CROs (11)
    • CRO Selection Criteria (11)
    • CRO Oversight and Management (11)
  • Patient Recruitment and Retention (57)
    • Recruitment Strategies (11)
    • Retention Strategies (11)
    • Patient Engagement Tools (11)
    • Diversity and Inclusion in Trials (11)
    • Use of Social Media for Recruitment (12)
  • Informed Consent and Ethics Committees (54)
    • Informed Consent Process (11)
    • Ethics Committee Submissions (10)
    • Ethical Considerations in Vulnerable Populations (11)
    • Consent in Emergency Research (10)
    • Re-Consent Procedures (11)
  • Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) (55)
    • Remote Patient Monitoring (10)
    • Telemedicine in Trials (11)
    • Home Health Visits (11)
    • Direct-to-Patient Drug Delivery (11)
    • Digital Consent Platforms (11)
  • Clinical Trial Supply and Logistics (55)
    • Investigational Product Management (11)
    • Cold Chain Logistics (10)
    • Supply Chain Risk Management (11)
    • Labeling and Packaging (11)
    • Return and Destruction of Supplies (11)
  • Safety Reporting and Pharmacovigilance (56)
    • Adverse Event Reporting (11)
    • Serious Adverse Event (SAE) Management (11)
    • Safety Signal Detection (11)
    • Risk Management Plans (11)
    • Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) (11)
  • Clinical Data Management (57)
    • Case Report Form (CRF) Design (11)
    • Data Entry and Validation (11)
    • Query Management (11)
    • Database Lock Procedures (11)
    • Data Archiving (12)
  • Biostatistics in Clinical Research (57)
    • Statistical Analysis Plans (11)
    • Sample Size Determination (11)
    • Interim Analysis (11)
    • Survival Analysis (12)
    • Handling Missing Data (11)
  • Real-World Evidence (RWE) and Observational Studies (56)
    • Registry Studies (11)
    • Retrospective Chart Reviews (11)
    • Prospective Cohort Studies (11)
    • Case-Control Studies (11)
    • Use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (11)
  • Medical Writing and Study Documentation (58)
    • Protocol Writing (11)
    • Investigator Brochures (11)
    • Clinical Study Reports (CSRs) (11)
    • Manuscript Preparation (11)
    • Regulatory Submission Documents (13)
  • Trial Master File (TMF) Management (57)
    • TMF Structure and Contents (10)
    • Electronic TMF Systems (7)
    • TMF Quality Control (12)
    • Inspection Readiness (12)
    • Archiving Requirements (11)
  • Protocol Amendments and Version Control (45)
    • Amendment Classification (11)
    • Regulatory Submissions of Amendments (11)
    • Communication of Changes to Sites (11)
    • Version Control Systems (11)
  • Data Integrity and ALCOA+ Principles (46)
    • Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate (ALCOA) (12)
    • Complete, Consistent, Enduring, and Available (ALCOA+) (10)
    • Data Governance Policies (12)
    • Audit Trails (11)
  • Investigator and Site Training (44)
    • Investigator Meetings (11)
    • Site Staff Training Programs (11)
    • Training Documentation (11)
    • Continuing Education Requirements (10)
  • Budgeting and Financial Management (40)
    • Budget Development (10)
    • Site Payment Management (10)
    • Financial Forecasting (10)
    • Cost Tracking and Reporting (10)
  • AI, Big Data, and Technology in Clinical Trials (41)
    • AI in Patient Recruitment (10)
    • Machine Learning for Data Analysis (10)
    • Blockchain for Data Security (10)
    • Wearable Devices and Sensors (11)
  • Career in Clinical Research (52)
    • Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Roles (11)
    • Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Roles (10)
    • Data Manager Careers (10)
    • Biostatistician Roles (10)
    • Regulatory Affairs Careers (11)
  • Clinical Trial Registries and Result Disclosure (40)
    • ClinicalTrials.gov Registration (9)
    • EudraCT Registration (10)
    • Results Posting Requirements (10)
    • Transparency Initiatives (11)

Quick Guide – 2

  • Clinical Trial Operations & Data Integrity (31)
    • TMF & eTMF (10)
    • Study Operations & Enrollment (10)
    • Biostats, CDISC & Traceability (11)
  • Clinical Trial Operations & Compliance (54)
    • Clinical Trial Logistics (30)
    • TMF / eTMF Management (6)
    • Clinical Trial Phases & Design (6)
    • Regulatory Submissions (CTD/eCTD) (6)
    • Vendor Oversight & CRO Compliance (6)
  • Quality Assurance and Audit Management (40)
    • Internal Audits (10)
    • External Audits (10)
    • Audit Preparation (10)
    • Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) (10)
  • Risk-Based Monitoring (RBM) (40)
    • Risk Assessment Tools (10)
    • Centralized Monitoring Techniques (10)
    • Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) (10)
    • Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) (10)
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (39)
    • SOP Development (9)
    • SOP Training (10)
    • SOP Compliance Monitoring (10)
    • SOP Revision Processes (10)
  • Electronic Data Capture (EDC) and eCRFs (40)
    • EDC System Selection (10)
    • eCRF Design (10)
    • Data Validation Rules (10)
    • User Access Management (10)
  • Wearables and Digital Endpoints (35)
    • Integration of Wearable Devices (10)
    • Digital Biomarkers (9)
    • Data Collection and Analysis (7)
    • Regulatory Considerations (9)
  • Blockchain and Data Security in Trials (39)
    • Blockchain Applications in Clinical Research (10)
    • Data Encryption Methods (9)
    • Access Control Mechanisms (11)
    • Compliance with Data Protection Regulations (9)
  • Biomarkers and Companion Diagnostics (39)
    • Biomarker Identification (10)
    • Validation Processes (10)
    • Companion Diagnostic Development (9)
    • Regulatory Approval Pathways (10)
  • Pediatric and Geriatric Clinical Trials (55)
    • Ethical Considerations (11)
    • Age-Specific Protocol Design (22)
    • Dosing and Safety Assessments (11)
    • Recruitment Strategies (11)
  • Oncology Clinical Trials (54)
    • Phase-Specific Oncology Trials (10)
    • Immunotherapy Studies (14)
    • Biomarker-Driven Trials (10)
    • Basket and Umbrella Trials (8)
    • Cancer Vaccines (12)
  • Vaccine Clinical Trials (40)
    • Phase I–IV Vaccine Trials (10)
    • Immunogenicity Assessments (10)
    • Cold Chain Requirements (10)
    • Post-Marketing Surveillance (10)
  • Rare and Orphan Disease Trials (186)
    • Patient Recruitment Challenges (31)
    • Regulatory Incentives (10)
    • Adaptive Trial Designs (10)
    • Natural History Studies (10)
    • Regulatory Frameworks (22)
    • Trial Design & Methodology (22)
    • Operational Challenges (21)
    • Ethics & Patient Engagement (20)
    • Data & Technology (20)
    • Case Studies & Breakthroughs (20)
  • Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies (BA/BE) (41)
    • Study Design Considerations (11)
    • Analytical Method Validation (10)
    • Statistical Analysis Requirements (10)
    • Regulatory Submission (10)
  • Regulatory Submissions and Approvals (73)
    • IND (Investigational New Drug) Submissions (10)
    • CTA (Clinical Trial Application) (10)
    • NDA/BLA/MAA Filings (10)
    • ANDA for Generics (10)
    • eCTD Submission Process (2)
    • Pre-Submission Meetings (FDA Type A/B/C) (10)
    • Regulatory Query Response Handling (10)
    • Post-Approval Commitments (11)
  • Clinical Trial Transparency and Ethics (60)
    • Trial Disclosure Obligations (10)
    • Result Publication Requirements (10)
    • Ethical Review Standards (10)
    • Open Access Data Sharing (10)
    • Informed Consent Disclosure (10)
    • Ethical Dilemmas in Global Research (10)
  • Protocol Deviation and CAPA Management (50)
    • Major vs Minor Deviations (10)
    • Root Cause Analysis (9)
    • CAPA Documentation (9)
    • Preventive Action Planning (1)
    • Monitoring and Training Based on Deviations (10)
    • Deviation Logs and Tracking Tools (11)
  • Audit Trails and Inspection Readiness (59)
    • TMF and eTMF Audit Trails (10)
    • Audit Trail Reviews in EDC (10)
    • Inspection Preparation Checklists (10)
    • Regulatory Inspection Types (Routine, For-Cause) (10)
    • Responding to Audit Observations (9)
    • Mock Inspections and Readiness Drills (10)
  • Study Feasibility and Site Selection (68)
    • Feasibility Questionnaire Design (10)
    • Site Capability Assessment (11)
    • Historical Performance Review (17)
    • Geographic and Demographic Considerations (10)
    • PI (Principal Investigator) Experience Evaluation (10)
    • Site Activation Planning (10)
  • Outsourcing and Vendor Management (65)
    • Vendor Qualification Process (12)
    • Due Diligence and Risk Assessment (11)
    • Vendor Contract Management (12)
    • KPIs for Vendor Performance (10)
    • Vendor Oversight and Audits (10)
    • Communication and Escalation Plans (10)
  • Remote Monitoring and Virtual Visits (64)
    • Centralized Monitoring Techniques (12)
    • Source Data Review Remotely (12)
    • Virtual Site Visits Protocols (11)
    • eConsent and Remote Data Collection (10)
    • Hybrid Monitoring Models (10)
    • Remote Site Training (9)
  • Laboratory and Sample Management (77)
    • Sample Collection SOPs (10)
    • Sample Labeling and Transport (10)
    • Chain of Custody Documentation (11)
    • Bioanalytical Testing and Storage (15)
    • Central vs Local Labs (11)
    • Laboratory Data Reconciliation (20)
  • Adverse Event Reporting and Management (63)
    • AE vs SAE Differentiation (10)
    • Expedited Reporting Timelines (11)
    • MedDRA Coding of Events (11)
    • AE Data Collection in eCRFs (11)
    • Causality and Severity Assessments (10)
    • Regulatory Reporting Requirements (CIOMS, SUSARs) (10)
  • Interim Analysis and Trial Termination (60)
    • Data Monitoring Committees (DMC) (10)
    • Pre-Specified Stopping Rules (10)
    • Statistical Thresholds for Early Stopping (10)
    • Adaptive Modifications Based on Interim Data (10)
    • Unblinding Protocols (10)
    • Reporting of Early Termination to Regulators (10)

Recent Posts

  • Test
  • Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health Care with Braces
  • Understanding Dental Health Care: Managing Implants Cost Effectively
  • Invisalign Alternatives: Practical Dental Health Care Solutions
  • Practical Guide to Dental Health Care: Managing Braces Effectively

Copyright © 2026 Clinical Research Made Simple.

Powered by PressBook WordPress theme