MEDICAL DEVICES

IN VITRO DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL DEVICES

Chapter II: Assessment of the technical documentation

4. Assessment of the technical documentation of class B, C and D devices and batch verification applicable to class D devices

4.1. In addition to the obligation laid down in Section 2, the manufacturer of devices shall lodge with the notified body an application for the assessment of the technical documentation relating to the device which it plans to place on the market or put into service and which is covered by the quality management system referred to in Section 2.

4.2. The application shall describe the design, manufacture and performance of the device in question. It shall include the technical documentation as referred to in Annexes II and III.

In the case of devices for self-testing or near-patient testing, the application shall also include the aspects referred to in point (b) of Section 5.1.

4.3. The notified body shall assess the technical documentation using staff with proven knowledge and experience in the evaluation of the technology, and the devices concerned and the evaluation of clinical evidence. The notified body may require the application to be completed by having further tests carried out or requesting further evidence to be provided to allow assessment of conformity with the relevant requirements of this Regulation. The notified body shall carry out adequate physical or laboratory tests in relation to the device or request the manufacturer to carry out such tests.

4.4. The notified body shall review the clinical evidence presented by the manufacturer in the performance evaluation report and the related performance evaluation that was conducted. The notified body shall use employed device reviewers with sufficient clinical expertise and including external clinical experts with direct and current experience relating to the clinical application of the device in question for the purposes of that review.

4.5. The notified body shall, in circumstances in which the clinical evidence is based partly or totally on data from devices which are claimed to be equivalent to the device under assessment, assess the suitability of using such data, taking into account factors such as new indications and innovation. The notified body shall clearly document its conclusions on the claimed equivalence, and on the relevance and adequacy of the data for demonstrating conformity.

4.6. The notified body shall verify that the clinical evidence and the performance evaluation are adequate and shall verify the conclusions drawn by the manufacturer on the conformity with the relevant general safety and performance requirements. That verification shall include consideration of the adequacy of the benefit-risk determination, the risk management, the instructions for use, the user training and the manufacturer's post-market surveillance plan, and include a review of the need for, and the adequacy of, the PMPF plan proposed, where applicable.

4.7. Based on its assessment of the clinical evidence, the notified body shall consider the performance evaluation and the benefit-risk determination, and whether specific milestones need to be defined to allow the notified body to review updates to the clinical evidence that result from post-market surveillance and PMPF data.

4.8. The notified body shall clearly document the outcome of its assessment in the performance evaluation assessment report.

4.9. Before issuing an EU technical documentation assessment certificate, the notified body shall request an EU reference laboratory, where designated in accordance with Article 100, to verify the performance claimed by the manufacturer and the compliance of the device with the CS, where available, or with other solutions chosen by the manufacturer to ensure a level of safety and performance that is at least equivalent. The verification shall include laboratory tests by the EU reference laboratory as referred to in Article 48(5).

In addition, the notified body shall, in the cases referred to in Article 48(6) of this Regulation, consult the relevant experts referred to in Article 106 of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 48(6) of this Regulation on the performance evaluation report of the manufacturer.

The EU reference laboratory shall provide a scientific opinion within 60 days.

The scientific opinion of the EU reference laboratory and, where applicable, the views of the experts consulted, pursuant to the procedure laid down in Article 48(6), and any possible updates shall be included in the documentation of the notified body concerning the device. The notified body shall, when making its decision, give due consideration to the views expressed in the scientific opinion of the EU reference laboratory, and, where applicable, to the views expressed by the experts consulted pursuant to Article 48(6). The notified body shall not deliver the certificate if the scientific opinion of the EU reference laboratory is unfavourable.

4.10. The notified body shall provide the manufacturer with a report on the technical documentation assessment, including a performance evaluation assessment report. If the device conforms to the relevant provisions of this Regulation, the notified body shall issue an EU technical documentation assessment certificate. The certificate shall contain the conclusions of the technical documentation assessment, the conditions of the certificate's validity, the data needed for identification of the approved device, and, where appropriate, a description of the intended purpose of the device.

4.11. Changes to the approved device shall require approval from the notified body which issued the EU technical documentation assessment certificate, where such changes could affect the safety and performance of the device or the conditions prescribed for use of the device. Where the manufacturer plans to introduce any of the above-mentioned changes it shall inform the notified body which issued the EU technical documentation assessment certificate thereof. The notified body shall assess the planned changes and decide whether the planned changes require a new conformity assessment in accordance with Article 48 or whether they could be addressed by means of a supplement to the EU technical documentation assessment certificate. In the latter case, the notified body shall assess the changes, notify the manufacturer of its decision and, where the changes are approved, provide it with a supplement to the EU technical documentation assessment certificate.

Where the changes could affect compliance with the CS or with other solutions chosen by the manufacturer which were approved through the EU technical documentation assessment certificate, the notified body shall consult the EU reference laboratory that was involved in the initial consultation, in order to confirm that compliance with the CS or with other solutions chosen by the manufacturer, to ensure a level of safety and performance that is at least equivalent, is maintained.

The EU reference laboratory shall provide a scientific opinion within 60 days.

4.12. To verify conformity of manufactured class D devices, the manufacturer shall carry out tests on each manufactured batch of devices. After the conclusion of the controls and tests, it shall forward to the notified body, without delay, the relevant reports on those tests. Furthermore, the manufacturer shall make the samples of manufactured batches of devices available to the notified body in accordance with pre-agreed conditions and detailed arrangements which shall include that the notified body or the manufacturer shall send samples of the manufactured batches of devices to the EU reference laboratory, where such a laboratory has been designated in accordance with Article 100, to carry out appropriate tests. The EU reference laboratory shall inform the notified body about its findings.

4.13. The manufacturer may place the devices on the market, unless the notified body communicates to the manufacturer within the agreed timeframe, but not later than 30 days after reception of the samples, any other decision, including in particular any condition of validity of delivered certificates.

5. Assessment of the technical documentation of specific types of devices

5.1. Assessment of the technical documentation of class B, C and D devices for self-testing and near-patient testing

(a) The manufacturer of class B, C and D devices for self-testing and near-patient testing shall lodge with the notified body an application for the assessment of the technical documentation.

(b) The application shall enable the design of the device characteristics and performance(s) to be understood and shall enable conformity with the design-related requirements of this Regulation to be assessed. It shall include:

(i) test reports, including results of studies carried out with intended users;

(ii) where practicable, an example of the device; if required, the device shall be returned on completion of the technical documentation assessment;

(iii) data showing the suitability of the device in view of its intended purpose for self-testing or near patient-testing;

(iv) the information to be provided with the device on its label and its instructions for use.

The notified body may require the application to be completed by carrying out further tests or by providing further proof to allow assessment of conformity with the requirements of this Regulation.

(c) The notified body shall verify the compliance of the device with the relevant requirements set out in Annex I of this Regulation.

(d) The notified body shall assess the application, by using staff, employed by it, with proven knowledge and experience regarding the technology concerned and the intended purpose of the device and provide the manufacturer with a technical documentation assessment report.

(e) If the device conforms to the relevant provisions of this Regulation, the notified body shall issue an EU technical documentation assessment certificate. The certificate shall contain the conclusions of the assessment, the conditions of its validity, the data needed for the identification of the approved devices and, where appropriate, a description of the intended purpose of the device.

(f) Changes to the approved device shall require approval from the notified body which issued the EU technical documentation assessment certificate, where such changes could affect the safety and performance of the device or the conditions prescribed for use of the device. Where the manufacturer plans to introduce any of the above-mentioned changes, it shall inform the notified body which issued the EU technical documentation assessment certificate thereof. The notified body shall assess the planned changes and decide whether the planned changes require a new conformity assessment in accordance with Article 48 or whether they could be addressed by means of a supplement to the EU technical documentation assessment certificate. In the latter case, the notified body shall assess the changes, notify the manufacturer of its decision and, where the changes are approved, provide it with a supplement to the EU technical documentation assessment certificate.

5.2. Assessment of the technical documentation of companion diagnostics

(a) The manufacturer of a companion diagnostic shall lodge with the notified body an application for the assessment of the technical documentation. The notified body shall assess that application in accordance with the procedure laid down in Sections 4.1 to 4.8 of this Annex.

(b) The application shall enable the characteristics and performance of the device to be understood, and shall enable conformity with the design-related requirements of this Regulation to be assessed, in particular, with regard to the suitability of the device in relation to the medicinal product concerned.

(c) The notified body shall, before issuing an EU technical documentation assessment certificate for the companion diagnostic and on the basis of the draft summary of safety and performance and the draft instructions for use, seek a scientific opinion from one of the competent authorities designated by the Member States in accordance with Directive 2001/83/EC or from the EMA, either of which to be referred to in this Section as ‘the medicinal products authority consulted’ depending on which has been consulted under this point, regarding the suitability of the device in relation to the medicinal product concerned. Where the medicinal product falls exclusively within the scope of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the notified body shall seek the opinion of the EMA. If the medicinal product concerned is already authorised, or if an application for its authorisation has been submitted, the notified body shall consult the medicinal products authority, or the EMA, that is responsible for the authorisation.

(d) The medicinal products authority consulted shall provide its opinion, within 60 days of receipt of all the necessary documentation. This 60-day period may be extended once for a further 60 days on justified grounds. The opinion and any possible update shall be included in the documentation of the notified body concerning the device.

(e) The notified body shall give due consideration to the scientific opinion referred to in point (d) when making its decision. The notified body shall convey its final decision to the medicinal products authority consulted. The EU technical documentation assessment certificate shall be delivered in accordance with point (e) of Section 5.1.

(f) Before changes affecting the performance and/or the intended use and/or the suitability of the device in relation to the medicinal product concerned are made, the manufacturer shall inform the notified body of the changes. The notified body shall assess the planned changes and decide whether the planned changes require a new conformity assessment in accordance with Article 48 or whether they could be addressed by means of a supplement to the EU technical documentation assessment certificate. In the latter case, the notified body shall assess the changes and seek the opinion of the medicinal products authority consulted. The medicinal products authority consulted shall give its opinion within 30 days of receipt of the all the necessary documentation regarding the changes. A supplement to the EU technical documentation assessment certificate shall be issued in accordance with point (f) of Section 5.1.