Oq

OQ is an acronym that can refer to several concepts across different fields. In the field of validation and compliance, OQ most often stands for Operational Qualification, a stage in the qualification of equipment, systems and software used in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. An OQ program follows Installation Qualification (IQ) and aims to verify that equipment and systems operate as intended under normal and worst‑case conditions. Typical activities include functional testing of critical features and interlocks, verification of alarm and safety logic, assessment of data integrity and system security, and calibration of instruments. All tests are executed according to written protocols and observed against predefined acceptance criteria. Results are documented in formal OQ records, including deviations, corrective actions, and approvals. OQ is commonly paired with or succeeded by Performance Qualification (PQ) to confirm that the equipment performs consistently under actual production conditions and with intended materials.

In regulated environments, OQ is part of a broader quality assurance framework and is conducted in accordance with applicable standards and regulatory requirements (for example, GMP and, in some jurisdictions, data integrity and electronic records guidelines).

Beyond this, OQ can have other meanings in different domains, and the intended sense should be determined from context. If you encounter OQ in a document, consult the glossary or definition section to understand the specific expansion.