IDOC content: What must IDOC include?

• A. All sample preparation and analytical steps contained in the method
• B. Only instrument calibration
• C. Only data reported
• D. None of the above

Answer: (A)

Complete method documentation is essential because it ensures reproducibility and auditability. The IDOC must capture everything needed to reproduce the work, which means detailing all sample preparation steps and every part of the analytical procedure described in the method. When you include the full sequence—from how samples are prepared, reagents and concentrations, instrument settings, calibration, quality checks, data processing, to how results are reported—you create a traceable record that allows someone else to follow the exact same steps and obtain comparable results. Relying only on instrument calibration or only on the data reported leaves out crucial context about how the data were generated, making transfer, verification, or audits unreliable. Therefore, including all sample preparation and analytical steps within the method is the most complete and robust approach.