New Guidelines on Stability Studies for Medical Devices in India

The CDSCO guidelines provides a roadmap for IVD manufacturers to design and conduct stability studies.

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Guidelines
Guidelines

Last Updated on May 4, 2024 by The Health Master

Guidelines

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India’s leading medical device regulator, has released a crucial guidelines for In-Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device (IVDMD) manufacturers.

This comprehensive document, titled “Guidance on Stability Studies of In-vitro Diagnostic Medical Device (IVDMD),” aims to streamline the premarket approval process for IVDs.

Importance of Stability Studies in IVDs

In-vitro diagnostic tests play a vital role in medical diagnosis. Their accuracy directly impacts patient outcomes.

A critical factor influencing test accuracy is the stability of the IVD reagents – the chemical or biological components that trigger the diagnostic reaction.

Over time, these reagents can degrade due to various environmental factors, potentially leading to inaccurate results.

Guidelines for Manufacturers

The CDSCO guidelines provides a roadmap for IVD manufacturers to design and conduct stability studies.

This ensures they can confidently claim a specific shelf life and demonstrate the device’s performance under real-world conditions.

The document emphasizes the manufacturer’s responsibility to:

  • Define claimed shelf life: Specify the duration for which the IVD maintains its performance characteristics.
  • Conduct stability testing: Evaluate the IVD’s stability under various conditions, including storage, transportation, and actual use.

Key Aspects of Stability Studies

The guidelines outlines specific requirements for different stability studies:

  • Shelf-life studies: Assess the stability of multiple device lots under typical storage conditions. Accelerated studies using extreme temperatures or humidity can be used initially, followed by real-time studies for confirmation.
  • In-use stability studies: Evaluate the device’s performance after opening the vial or during use on automated instruments.
  • Shipping stability studies: Test the device’s tolerance to anticipated shipping conditions like extreme heat or cold.

Standards and Recommendations

The CDSCO recommends utilizing internationally recognized standards like IS/ISO 23640 and CLSI-EP25-A for designing stability studies.

These standards ensure consistent and reliable testing methodologies.

Tailoring Studies to Indian Conditions

The guidelines acknowledges the diverse environmental conditions across India.

It emphasizes the need to design studies that reflect these variations, including:

  • Temperature extremes: Account for both storage and in-use temperature fluctuations.
  • Humidity variations: Consider the impact of humidity levels on device stability.
  • Dust and light exposure: Evaluate the effects of dust and light during storage and transportation.

Benefits of Robust Stability Studies

Following these guidelines for stability studies offers several advantages for manufacturers:

  • Enhanced product quality: Stability testing helps ensure consistent and reliable performance of IVDs.
  • Improved patient outcomes: Accurate diagnostic results derived from stable IVDs lead to better patient care.
  • Streamlined regulatory approval: Well-designed stability studies expedite the premarket approval process.
  • Reduced post-market issues: Proactive stability testing helps prevent quality problems after product launch.

Conclusion

The CDSCO’s new guidelines on stability studies empowers IVD manufacturers in India to deliver high-quality diagnostic tools.

By following these guidelines, manufacturers can ensure the accuracy and reliability of their products, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and public health.

Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.

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