Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Practice

When can a drug product be salvaged?

1. Only after thorough consumer complaints are resolved

2. If it passes lab tests confirming it meets quality standards

3. Whenever possible, regardless of storage condition

4. If it hasn't reached its expiration date

The correct answer is: If it passes lab tests confirming it meets quality standards

A drug product can be salvaged primarily if it passes laboratory tests confirming it meets established quality standards. This is critical in the pharmaceutical industry because drugs must adhere to stringent quality and safety regulations. Before salvage can occur, a comprehensive evaluation of the product is necessary, including tests for potency, purity, and overall quality. If a product fails to meet these quality standards, it cannot be considered safe or effective for patient use, regardless of other factors such as storage conditions or complaints. This ensures that only products that are verified to meet regulatory requirements can be reintroduced to the market, protecting consumer safety and maintaining the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain. While the condition of the drug at the time of potential salvage, its expiration date, or customer complaints are important considerations, they do not independently justify salvaging a product. The essential criterion remains that a drug product must first demonstrate compliance with all quality assurance standards through laboratory testing.