The WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations adopted in 2009 a revised version of the Good practices for pharmaceutical quality control laboratories. During the inspections carried out when prequalifying laboratories, the inspectors had noticed that some of the texts of these guidelines might benefit from additional guidance, with a special focus on microbiology. In light of the above, the Expert Committee recommended that the WHO Secretariat initiate the process of developing a new text on good practices for pharmaceutical microbiology laboratories...