Which statement describes how monitors should handle standard operating procedures?

• A. Monitors may ignore SOPs if site is compliant
• B. Monitors should create their own procedures mid-trial
• C. Monitors should follow only the investigator's personal procedures
• D. Monitors should follow the sponsor's established written SOPs and any trial-specific monitoring procedures

Answer: (D)

The issue being tested is the need for consistency and regulatory alignment in how monitoring is performed. Monitors must operate from approved, standardized instructions to ensure every site conducts the trial in the same way and in line with safety and data integrity requirements. Following the sponsor’s established written SOPs and any trial-specific monitoring procedures provides a consistent framework for how monitoring tasks are carried out, how findings are documented, and how deviations are handled. This helps ensure that monitoring is objective, traceable, and compliant with GCP and regulatory expectations.

If monitors were to ignore SOPs, invent their own procedures, or rely only on investigators’ personal methods, variability would creep in across sites. That could lead to inconsistent data, unaddressed protocol deviations, and regulatory risks. Trial-specific monitoring procedures are designed to address the unique aspects of a given study, so adhering to those as well reinforces appropriate oversight.