Guidance for robustness/ruggedness tests in method validation

This paper is intended to give guidance in setting-up and interpreting a robustness test. The different steps in a robustness test are discussed and illustrated with examples. The recommendations given for the different steps are based on approaches found in the literature, several case studies performed by the authors and discussions of the authors within a commission of the French SFSTP (Société Française des Sciences et Techniques Pharmaceutiques). In the end of the paper a worked-out example is given of a robustness test case study set up and interpreted according to the guidelines.