The eClinical Forum offers 2 system assessment forms for investigator sites, sponsors, CROs, and regulators to use free of charge, to evaluate the suitability of an investigator site system to provide data/records for clinical trials. They are:

  • e-Source-Readiness Assessment (eSRA)
  • e-Investigator Site File System Assessment (ISF Assessment)

The 2 system assessment forms contain questions based on regulations and guidelines from global regulatory agencies for clinical research.  Since 2016, eSRA has been globally in use and regulators have accepted its inclusion in study materials. In 2024, the The ISF Assessment, based on eSRA, was released on the request of our eSRA users.  The eCF intends to publish an update to these materials annually, in Q1, to keep current with regulations and guidelines.

  • Each assessment form is packaged in a handbook providing guidance to sites on how to complete the form. The form should not be separated from the handbook, except after completion. 
  • The document “Implementing eSRA – Sponsor Assessment”, while written for eSRA, applies equally to implementing the ISF Assessment.
  • A joint document, “Regulatory documents used as a basis for the eClinical Forum eSRA and ISF Assessments” shows the correlation between these 2 assessment tools and the underlying regulatory documents.

Notice to those intending to include eCF Site System Assessment Forms in their own materials/applications: the forms are copyrighted by the eClinical Forum in 2024The eClinical Forum keeps all rights of this material. Please see the License for Fair Use in the Handbooks and “Implementing eSRA” Guide. We welcome our assessment forms to be used in other formats, however, it is required that all question text be used exactly, that all questions are included, that your use is updated when the eCF forms are updated (annually, Q1), and that eClinical Forum is notified in writing and credited. By using these materials, you acknowledge the terms and conditions for use.  The eClinical Forum is only responsible for materials as distributed via the eClinical Forum website. If using the eCF form, downloaded from this website in its original format, there is no need to notify eCF.

 

Stay Current!!

As new regulations are released or updated, the eClinical Forum will evaluate if the site system assessment form questions should be updated. To be notified of future releases of eSRA and ISF Assessment and/or to provide feedback to the team, please send an email to eSRA@eClinicalForum.org or  ISFA@eClinicalForum.org.  Your email address will not be used for purposes other than to inform you of updates to eSRA and ISF Assessment.

Do we keep a list of sites that have completed eCF Site Assessments?

We have frequently been asked if we can provide a list of which sites have already completed an eSRA. Due to privacy laws in different countries, eClinical Forum does not keep such a list. We supply the site system assessment questionnaires (eSRA and ISF Assessment), free of charge, to anyone who wants to use it. We encourage sponsors to keep a list for themselves of which sites they have received a completed assessment from. We encourage sites to store their completed eSRA or ISF Assessment in a central location (such as their IT department) so that other groups within the same organization / using the same computerised system, can use the previously completed assessment as a starting point.

eCF Site System Assessment Resources – Scroll to see all resources

eCF Requirements for Electronic Data for Regulated Clinical Trials PR2023

Published on 24 March 2024

eCF Requirements for Electronic Data for Regulated Clinical Trials PR2023

24 March 2024 Public Release

The eClinical Forum is happy to announce the Public release of the "eCF Requirements for Electronic Data for Regulated Clinical Trials PR2023.1"

ABOUT THE ECF REQUIREMENTS:  The eClinical Forum has produced a set of Requirements, which are based upon statements in regulatory documents that pertain to the design, development, implementation, and management of electronic systems that support clinical research data as well as those statements that pertain to the handling of data that will be used in a regulated clinical trial.  We have reviewed regulatory documents from the FDA, EMA, PMDA, NMPA, MHRA and ICH to produce this set of requirements. Each Requirement has as its basis one or more statements from one or more of these regulatory documents. The Requirements can be used to determine if systems, that source or manage data which will become part of a regulated clinical trial, are consistent with regulatory requirements and if systems and process that manage these data have the necessary features.

This is a significant accomplishment by the eClinical Forum’s “Regulatory Expert Group” (REG) as they have put in countless hours over several years to be able to produce such a comprehensive list of compliance requirements for evaluating electronic systems that will manage data used in regulated clinical research against regulations and guidances from FDA, EMA, PMDA, NMPA, MHRA and ICH.  This work is a result of the vast experience of the REG members who come from a variety of different eCF Member companies. They have spent hours debating each regulation or guidance and how to word the eCF Requirements to correctly meet the needs in the regulatory document.  If any one company were to undertake such a project, the hours spent would justify an eClinical Forum membership very quickly.

This release, PR2023.1 is for Public Use

The 2023.1 Version document is being released to the public as we believe that it will be of significant use to all.  

At this time, the most current version (2023.3) of the eCF Requirements is reserved for eClinical Forum members only.  This was released in Nov 2023 and incorporates requirements from the EMA Guideline on computerised systems and data in clinical trials (effective date 7 September 2023). 

For information on becoming an eClinical Forum member (and thus having access to the eCF Requirements V2023.3, which has significant updates), please see membership details at www.eclinicalforum.org/membership or send us a note at info@eclinicalforum.org and we will be happy to set up a phone meeting to discuss all the benefits that come to an organization through membership. Please note – membership is by organization only; there are no individual membership options.

The eCF has also produced a questionnaire, based on the eCF Requirements, that can be used for sites to assess if their EHR/EMR systems are suitable for originating data that could be used in a regulated clinical trial. This free tool is called “eSRA” for “eSource-Readiness Assessment” and can be downloaded from the eClinical Forum website in the eSRA tab.  

The eCF REG absolutely welcomes feedback. Please send feedback to REG@eclinicalforum.org

 

 

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