What is the difference between a controlled copy and an uncontrolled draft in SOP management?

• A. Both are equally valid and interchangeable.
• B. A controlled copy is the approved version locked from edits; drafts are in flux and not used for operations.
• C. A controlled copy is a draft circulated for comment; draft is the final version.
• D. Uncontrolled drafts are used in operations; controlled copies are just references.

Answer: (B)

This question hinges on how SOPs are kept reliable through status and version control. A controlled copy is the officially approved version that is locked from edits, with formal versioning, an effective date, and a defined distribution. It is the document you should refer to for day-to-day operations and audits because it represents the approved instructions that everyone follows. An uncontrolled draft, by contrast, is the work-in-progress version circulated to gather feedback. It’s not locked or finalized, may change, and therefore isn’t used to guide actual tasks.

That separation is what makes the correct description the best choice: the controlled copy is the approved, edited-and-locked standard, while drafts are temporary, in-flux materials meant for review and improvement. The other options misrepresent how SOPs are used—for example, treating drafts as the operational standard or implying both forms are equally valid.