Which items are included in the document life cycle for SOPs?

• A. Creation, Review, Approval, Distribution
• B. Use, Revision, Archival, Sunset
• C. All of the above
• D. Draft, Publish, Edit, Delete

Answer: (C)

The question tests understanding that an SOP’s life cycle runs through a complete journey from inception to retirement. A document starts with creation or drafting, then moves through review and formal approval to ensure accuracy and accountability. Once approved, it’s distributed so the right people can access and use it. As procedures are put into practice, revisions may be needed to reflect real-world use or updated requirements. After changes, older or superseded versions are archived for record-keeping, and eventually a sunset or decommission may mark the SOP as no longer active. Some workflows also include publishing, editing, and even deleting obsolete copies to keep the library current. Because these stages collectively cover the entire lifecycle, the option that includes all of them is the correct one. The other options only touch on portions of the process and don’t represent the full lifecycle.