Directive 98/79/EC sets out the essential requirements that in vitro diagnostic medical devices must meet when they are placed on the market and conformity with harmonised standards provides a presumption of conformity with the relevant essential requirements.

By way of exception to these general principles, the drawing up of common technical specifications takes account of a current practice in some Member States whereby for selected devices mainly used for the evaluation of the safety of blood supply and of organ donation, such specifications are adopted by the public authorities. These common technical specifications can be used for performance evaluation and re-evaluation.

Scientific experts from various interested parties have been involved in the drafting of the common technical specifications.

Directive 98/79/EC provides that Member States are to presume compliance with the essential requirements in respect of devices designed and manufactured in conformity with common technical specifications drawn up for certain devices in the highest risk category. These specifications are to establish appropriate performance evaluation and re-evaluation criteria, batch release criteria, reference methods and reference materials.

Manufacturers are, as a general rule, to be required to comply with the common technical specifications. If, for duly justified reasons, manufacturers do not comply with those specifications they must adopt solutions of a level at least equivalent thereto.