European Medicines Agency

Guideline on computerised systems and electronic data in clinical trials

Sponsors, investigators, service providers, and other parties using computerised systems or collecting electronic data in clinical trials.

Authority
European Medicines Agency
Source
Guideline on computerised systems and electronic data in clinical trials
Type
Agency guideline
Status
Adopted guideline
Publication date
10 March 2023
Effective date
Published guideline; verify applicable legal context
Last reviewed
12 September 2026
Topics
CSV / CSA · Data Integrity · AI · Cybersecurity · Cloud / SaaS

Applicability

Sponsors, investigators, service providers, and other parties using computerised systems or collecting electronic data in clinical trials.

What Changed

The record adds an EMA source that addresses risk-proportionate validation, data integrity, system descriptions, interfaces, procedures, training, access, and security in clinical trials.

What Did Not Change

It does not replace the governing clinical-trial legislation, ICH GCP, or other applicable legal frameworks.

Practical Impact

Clinical-system assessments should cover system inventory, fitness for purpose, interfaces, operational responsibility, data integrity, access, and documented procedures.

Actions to Consider

Use the guideline within the actual clinical-trial role and legal context; identify additional device, privacy, signature, or national requirements separately.

Primary Source

Open the issuing-authority source

Revision history

Version 1.2 · 12 September 2026: Terminology and source fields standardized for Version 32.