The devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to achieve the characteristics and performances referred to in section A on the ‘General requirements’. Particular attention must be paid to the possibility of impairment of analytical performance due to incompatibilitybetween the materials used and the specimens (such as biological tissues, cells, body fluids and micro-organisms) intended to be used with the device, taking account of its intended purpose.

The devices must be designed, manufactured and packed in such a way as to reduce as far as possible the risk posed by product leakage, contaminants and residues to the persons involved in the transport, storage and use of the devices, taking account of the intended purpose of the products.

The devices and their manufacturing processes must be designed in such a way as to eliminate or reduce as far as possible the risk of infection to the user or other persons. The design must allow easy handling and, where necessary, reduce as far as possible contamination of, and leakage from, the device during use and, in the case of specimen receptacles, the risk of contamination of the specimen. The manufacturing processes must be appropriate for these purposes.

Where a device incorporates biological substances, the risks of infection must be reduced as far as possible by selecting appropriate donors and appropriate substances and by using appropriate, validated inactivation, conservation, test and control procedures.

Devices labelled either as ‘STERILE’ or as having a special microbiological state must be designed, manufactured and packed in an appropriate pack, according to procedures suitable for ensuring that they remain in the appropriate microbiological state indicated on the label when placed on the market, under the storage and transport conditions specified by the manufacturer, until the protective packaging is damaged or opened.

Devices labelled either as ‘STERILE’ or as having a special microbiological state must have been processed by an appropriate, validated method.

Packaging systems for devices other than those referred to in section 2.3 must keep the product without deterioration at the level of cleanliness indicated by the manufacturer and, if the devices are to be sterilised prior to use, reduce as far as possible the risk of microbial contamination.

Steps must be taken to reduce as far as possible microbial contamination during selection and handling of raw materials, manufacture, storage and distribution where the performance of the device can be adversely affected by such contamination.

Devices intended to be sterilised must be manufactured in appropriately controlled (e.g. environmental) conditions.

Packaging systems for non-sterile devices must keep the product without deterioration at the level of cleanliness stipulated and, if the devices are to be sterilised prior to use, minimise the risk of microbial contamination; the packaging system must be suitable taking account of the method of sterilisation indicated by the manufacturer.

If the device is intended for use in combination with other devices or equipment, the whole combination, including the connection system, must be safe and must not impair the specified performances of the devices. Any restrictions on use must be indicated on the label and/or in the instructions for use.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to reduce as far as possible the risks linked to their use in conjunction with materials, substances and gases with which they may come into contact during normal conditions of use.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to remove or reduce as far as possible:

• the risk of injury linked to their physical features (in particular aspects of volume × pressure, dimension and, where appropriate, ergonomic features),

• risks linked to reasonably foreseeable external influences, such as magnetic fields, external electrical effects, electrostatic discharge, pressure, humidity, temperature or variations in pressure or acceleration or accidental penetration of substances into the device.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to provide an adequate level of intrinsic immunity of electromagnetic disturbance to enable them to operate as intended.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to reduce as far as possible the risks of fire or explosion during normal use and in single fault condition. Particular attention must be paid to devices whose intended use includes exposure to or use in association with flammable substances or substances which could cause combustion.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to facilitate the management of safe waste disposal.

The measuring, monitoring or display scale (including colour change and other visual indicators) must be designed and manufactured in line with ergonomic principles, taking account of the intended purpose of the device.

Devices which are instruments or apparatus having a primary analytical measuring function must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to provide adequate stability and accuracy of measurement within appropriate accuracy limits, taking into account the intended purpose of the device and of available and appropriate reference measurement procedures and materials. The accuracy limits have to be specified by the manufacturer.

When values are expressed numerically, they must be given in legal units conforming to the provisions of Council Directive 80/181/EEC of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement16.

Devices shall be designed, manufactured and packaged in such a way that exposure of users and other persons to the emitted radiation is minimised.

When devices are intended to emit potentially hazardous, visible and/or invisible radiation, they must as far as possible be:

• designed and manufactured in such a way as to ensure that the characteristics and the quantity of radiation emitted can be controlled and/or adjusted,

• fitted with visual displays and/or audible warnings of such emissions.

The operating instructions for devices emitting radiation must give detailed information as to the nature of the emitted radiation, means of protecting the user, and on ways of avoiding misuse and of eliminating the risks inherent in installation.

Devices incorporating electronic programmable systems, including software, must be designed to ensure the repeatability, reliability and performance of these systems according to the intended use.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to minimise the risks of creating electromagnetic perturbation which could impair the operation of other devices or equipment in the usual environment.

Devices must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to avoid, as far as possible, the risk of accidental electric shocks during normal use and in single fault condition, provided the devices are installed and maintained correctly.

Devices for self-testing must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to:

• ensure that the device is easy to use by the intended lay user at all stages of the procedure, and

• reduce as far as practicable the risk of user error in the handling of the device and in the interpretation of the results.

Devices for self-testing must, where reasonably possible, include user control, i.e. a procedure by which the user can verify that, at the time of use, the product will perform as intended.

Each device must be accompanied by the information needed to use it safely and properly, taking account of the training and knowledge of the potential users, and to identify the manufacturer.

This information comprises the data on the label and in the instructions for use.

As far as practicable and appropriate, the information needed to use the device safely and properly must be set out on the device itself and/or, where appropriate, on the sales packaging. If individual full labelling of each unit is not practicable, the information must be set out on the packaging and/or in the instructions for use supplied with one or more devices.

Instructions for use must accompany or be included in the packaging of one or more devices.

In duly justified and exceptional cases no such instructions for use are needed for a device if it can be used properly and safely without them.

X1The decision whether to translate the instructions for use and the label into one or more languages of the European Union shall be left to the Member States, except that, for devices for self-testing, the instructions for use and the label must include a translation into the official language(s) of the Member State in which the device for self-testing reaches its final user.

Where appropriate, the information to be supplied should take the form of symbols. Any symbol and identification colour used must conform to the harmonised standards. In areas for which no standards exist, the symbols and colour used must be described in the documentation supplied with the device.

In the case of devices containing or a preparation which may be considered as being dangerous, taking account of the nature and quantity of its constituents and the form under which they are present, relevant danger symbols and labelling requirements of Directive 67/548/EEC17 and Directive 88/379/EEC18 shall apply. Where there is insufficient space to put all the information on the device itself or on its label, the relevant danger symbols shall be put on the label and the other information required by those Directives shall be given in the instructions for use.

The provisions of the aforementioned Directives on the safety data sheet shall apply, unless all relevant information as appropriate is already made available by the instructions for use.

The label must bear the following particulars which may take the form of symbols as appropriate:

1. (a)

   the name or trade name and address of the manufacturer. For devices imported into the Community with a view to their distribution in the Community, the label, the outer packaging, or the instructions for use shall contain in addition the name and address of the authorised representative of the manufacturer;

2. (b)

   the details strictly necessary for the user to uniquely identify the device and the contents of the packaging;

3. (c)

   where appropriate, the word ‘STERILE’ or a statement indicating any special microbiological state or state of cleanliness;

4. (d)

   the batch code, preceded by the word ‘LOT’, or the serial number;

5. (e)

   if necessary, an indication of the date by which the device or part of it should be used, in safety, without degradation of performance, expressed as the year, the month and, where relevant, the day, in that order;

6. (f)

   in case of devices for performance evaluation, the words ‘for performance evaluation only’;

7. (g)

   where appropriate, a statement indicating the in vitro use of the device;

8. (h)

   any particular storage and/or handling conditions;

9. (i)

   where applicable, any particular operating instructions;

10. (j)

    appropriate warnings and/or precautions to take;

11. (k)

    if the device is intended for self-testing, that fact must be clearly stated.

If the intended purpose of the device is not obvious to the user, the manufacturer must clearly state the intended purpose in the instructions for use and, if appropriate, on the label.

Wherever reasonable and practicable, the devices and separate components must be identified, where appropriate in terms of batches, to allow all appropriate action to detect any potential risk posed by the devices and detachable components.

Where appropriate, the instructions for use must contain the following particulars:

1. (a)

   the details referred to in section 8.4 with the exception of points (d) and (e);

2. (b)

   composition of the reagent product by nature and amount or concentration of the active ingredient(s) of the reagent(s) or kit as well as a statement, where appropriate, that the device contains other ingredients which might influence the measurement;

3. (c)

   the storage conditions and shelf life following the first opening of the primary container, together with the storage conditions and stability of working reagents;

4. (d)

   the performances referred to in section 3 of part A;

5. (e)

   an indication of any special equipment required including information necessary for the identification of that special equipment for proper use;

6. (f)

   the type of specimen to be used, any special conditions of collection, pre-treatment and, if necessary, storage conditions and instructions for the preparation of the patient;

7. (g)

   a detailed description of the procedure to be followed in using the device;

8. (h)

   the measurement procedure to be followed with the device including as appropriate:

   • the principle of the method,

   • the specific analytical performance characteristics (e.g. sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility, limits of detection and measurement range, including information needed for the control of known relevant interferences), limitations of the method and information about the use of available reference measurement procedures and materials by the user,

   • the details of any further procedure or handling needed before the device can be used (for example, reconstitution, incubation, dilution, instrument checks, etc.),

   • the indication whether any particular training is required;

9. (i)

   the mathematical approach upon which the calculation of the analytical result is made;

10. (j)

    measures to be taken in the event of changes in the analytical performance of the device;

11. (k)

    information appropriate to users on:

    • internal quality control including specific validation procedures,

    • the traceability of the calibration of the device;

12. (l)

    the reference intervals for the quantities being determined, including a description of the appropriate reference population;

13. (m)

    if the device must be used in combination with or installed with or connected to other medical devices or equipment in order to operate as required for its intended purpose, sufficient details of its characteristics to identify the correct devices or equipment to use in order to obtain a safe and proper combination;

14. (n)

    all the information needed to verify whether the device is properly installed and can operate correctly and safely, plus details of the nature and frequency of the maintenance and calibration needed to ensure that the device operates properly and safely; information about safe waste disposal;

15. (o)

    details of any further treatment or handling needed before the device can be used (for example, sterilisation, final assembly, etc.);

16. (p)

    the necessary instructions in the event of damage to the protective packaging and details of appropriate methods of resterilisation or decontamination;

17. (q)

    if the device is reusable, information on the appropriate processes to allow reuse, including cleaning, disinfection, packaging and resterilisation or decontamination, and any restriction on the number of reuses;

18. (r)

    precautions to be taken as regards exposure, in reasonably foreseeable environmental conditions, to magnetic fields, external electrical influences, electrostatic discharge, pressure or variations in pressure, acceleration, thermal ignition sources, etc.;

19. (s)

    precautions to be taken against any special, unusual risks related to the use or disposal of the device including special protective measures; where the device includes substances of human or animal origin, attention must be drawn to their potential infectious nature;

20. (t)

    specifications for devices for self-testing:

    • the results need to be expressed and presented in a way that is readily understood by a lay person; information needs to be provided with advice to the user on action to be taken (in case of positive, negative or indeterminate result) and on the possibility of false positive or false negative result,

    • specific particulars may be omitted provided that the other information supplied by the manufacturer is sufficient to enable the user to use the device and to understand the result(s) produced by the device,

    • the information provided must include a statement clearly directing that the user should not take any decision of medical relevance without first consulting his or her medical practitioner,

    • the information must also specify that when the device for self-testing is used for the monitoring of an existing disease, the patient should only adapt the treatment if he has received the appropriate training to do so;

21. (u)

    date of issue or latest revision of the instructions for use.