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Migration Studies for In Vitro Diagnostic Devices Moving to New Systems

This guidance outlines FDA's regulatory approach for approval of Class III in vitro diagnostic devices, as well as certain licensed or cleared in vitro diagnostic devices when migrating (transitioning) to another system for which assay performance has not been evaluated by FDA. It focuses on study designs and performance criteria for analytical and comparison studies to demonstrate that the safety and effectiveness of the assay is not compromised when moving to the new system.

  1. Determine if assay migration studies approach is appropriate based on critical considerations
  2. Prepare and submit documentation including:
    • Device descriptions and block diagrams comparing old and new systems
    • Similarities/differences tables for assay parameters and hardware/software
    • Risk analysis of new system
    • Software validation data
    • System operator manuals
    • Proposed labeling modifications
  3. Conduct required analytical studies:
    • Performance at low analyte levels
    • Within-laboratory precision studies
    • Multi-site reproducibility studies
    • Comparison studies using appropriate panels
    • Additional studies specific to assay type (qualitative/quantitative/molecular)
  4. Perform statistical analysis to demonstrate:
    • No clinically significant systematic differences between systems
    • Comparable precision between systems
    • Acceptable agreement in comparison studies
  5. Investigate and assess risk of any significant differences found between systems
  6. Consult with FDA early in process, especially for manual to automated system migrations

Key Considerations

Non-clinical testing

  • Analytical studies including performance at low analyte levels, precision studies (within-laboratory and reproducibility)
  • Comparison studies between old and new systems using comparison panels
  • Statistical analysis of data to demonstrate equivalence between systems
  • For quantitative assays: linearity studies
  • For molecular assays: additional specific testing for carryover, sample stability, sample processing

Software

  • Documentation of software design controls, verification and validation
  • Summaries validating functional operation of alerts and alarms
  • Testing should use final release candidate software

Labelling

  • Proposed modifications to labeling to appropriately describe prior data and new migration study information
  • Consultation with FDA on dual or separate package inserts
  • Inclusion of old system’s analytical and performance data where appropriate

Safety

  • Risk analysis of the new system (software/hardware/assay)
  • Documentation of design controls and quality systems

Other considerations

  • ISO 14971:2007: Medical devices – Application of risk management to medical devices
  • CLSI EP05-A2: Evaluation of Precision Performance of Quantitative Measurement Methods
  • CLSI EP06-A: Evaluation of the Linearity of Quantitative Measurement Procedures
  • CLSI EP09-A2-IR: Method Comparison and Bias Estimation Using Patient Samples
  • CLSI EP12-A2: User Protocol for Evaluation of Qualitative Test Performance
  • CLSI EP15-A2: User Verification of Performance for Precision and Trueness
  • CLSI EP17-A2: Evaluation of Detection Capability for Clinical Laboratory Measurement Procedures
  • CLSI EP21-A: Estimation of Total Analytical Error for Clinical Laboratory Methods

Original guidance

  • Migration Studies for In Vitro Diagnostic Devices Moving to New Systems
  • HTML / PDF
  • Issue date: 2013-04-25
  • Last changed date: 2020-02-28
  • Status: FINAL
  • Official FDA topics: Medical Devices, Laboratory Tests, Premarket, IVDs (In Vitro Diagnostic Devices)
  • ReguVirta summary file ID: 7fbaeaf8ff6a8bd906191d812a2ef9dc
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