What does CAPA stand for in QC practice, and why is it important?

• A. Corrective and Procedural Adjustment; used to adjust procedures
• B. Corrective and Preventive Action; used to address issues and prevent recurrence
• C. Comprehensive Analytical Procedure Approval; used for regulatory filing
• D. Compliance and Performance Accreditation; used for certification

Answer: (B)

CAPA stands for Corrective and Preventive Action. In QC practice, it provides a formal, systematic way to handle problems: when something goes wrong, you investigate to find the root cause, implement a corrective action to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again, and also put preventive actions in place to reduce the chance of similar problems in the future. The process usually includes documenting the problem, performing root cause analysis, planning and implementing actions, verifying that those actions were effective, and closing the record with evidence and potential trend monitoring. This approach supports regulatory compliance and continuous improvement by ensuring issues are not only resolved but also prevented from recurring. The other options don’t fit CAPA because they describe procedures or concepts that don’t capture both the corrective and preventive aspects of addressing issues and preventing recurrence.