2017-24161. Medical Devices; Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Toxicology Devices; Classification of the Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Mass Spectrometry Test System

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Final order.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is classifying the total 25-hydroxyvitamin D mass spectrometry test system into class II (special controls). The special controls that apply to the device type are identified in this order and will be part of the codified language for the total 25-hydroxyvitamin D mass spectrometry test system's classification. We are taking this action because we have determined that classifying the device into class II (special controls) will provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. We believe this action will also enhance patients' access to beneficial innovative devices, in part by reducing regulatory burdens.

DATES:

This order is effective November 7, 2017. The classification was applicable on May 18, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steven Tjoe, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 4550, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-5866, [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Upon request, FDA has classified the total 25-hydroxyvitamin D mass spectrometry test system as class II (special controls), which we have determined will provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. In addition, we believe this action will enhance patients' access to beneficial innovation, in part by reducing regulatory burdens by placing the device into a lower device class than the automatic class III assignment.

The automatic assignment of class III occurs by operation of law and without any action by FDA, regardless of the level of risk posed by the new device. Any device that was not in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976, is automatically classified as, and remains within, class III and requires premarket approval unless and until FDA takes an action to classify or reclassify the device (see 21 U.S.C. 360c(f)(1)). We refer to these devices as “postamendments devices” because they were not in commercial distribution prior to the date of enactment of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976, which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act).

FDA may take a variety of actions in appropriate circumstances to classify or reclassify a device into class I or II. We may issue an order finding a new device to be substantially equivalent under section 513(i) of the FD&C Act to a predicate device that does not require premarket approval (see 21 U.S.C. 360c(i)). We determine whether a new device is substantially equivalent to a predicate by means of the procedures for premarket notification under section 510(k) of the FD&C Act and part 807 (21 U.S.C. 360(k) and 21 CFR part 807, respectively).

FDA may also classify a device through “De Novo” classification, a common name for the process authorized under section 513(f)(2) of the FD&C Act. Section 207 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 established the first procedure for De Novo classification (Pub. L. 105-115). Section 607 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act modified the De Novo application process by adding a second procedure (Pub. L. 112-144). A device sponsor may utilize either procedure for De Novo classification.

Under the first procedure, the person submits a 510(k) for a device that has not previously been classified. After receiving an order from FDA classifying the device into class III under section 513(f)(1) of the FD&C Act, the person then requests a classification under section 513(f)(2).

Under the second procedure, rather than first submitting a 510(k) and then a request for classification, if the person determines that there is no legally marketed device upon which to base a determination of substantial equivalence, that person requests a classification under section 513(f)(2) of the FD&C Act.

Under either procedure for De Novo classification, FDA is required to classify the device by written order within 120 days. The classification will be according to the criteria under section 513(a)(1) of the FD&C Act. Although the device was automatically within class III, the De Novo classification is considered to be the initial classification of the device.

We believe this De Novo classification will enhance patients' access to beneficial innovation, in part by reducing regulatory burdens. When FDA classifies a device into class I or II via the De Novo process, the device can serve as a predicate for future devices of that type, including for 510(k)s (see 21 U.S.C. 360c(f)(2)(B)(i)). As a result, other device sponsors do not have to submit a De Novo request or PMA in order to market a substantially equivalent device (see 21 U.S.C. 360c(i), defining “substantial equivalence”). Instead, sponsors can use the less-burdensome 510(k) process, when necessary, to market their device.

II. De Novo Classification

On March 20, 2017, AB Sciex LLC submitted a request for De Novo classification of the Vitamin D 200M Assay for the Topaz System. FDA reviewed the request in order to classify the device under the criteria for classification set forth in section 513(a)(1) of the FD&C Act.

We classify devices into class II if general controls by themselves are insufficient to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness, but there is sufficient information to establish special controls that, in combination with the generals controls, provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use (see 21 U.S.C. 360c(a)(1)(B)). After review of the information submitted in the request, we determined that the device can be classified into class II with the establishment of special controls. FDA has determined that these special controls, in addition to the general controls, will provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device.

Therefore, on May 18, 2017, FDA issued an order to the requester classifying the device into class II. FDA is codifying the classification of the device by adding 21 CFR 862.1840. We have named the generic type of device total 25-hydroxyvitamin D mass spectrometry test system, and it is identified as a device intended for use in clinical laboratories for the quantitative determination of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) in serum or plasma to be used in the assessment of vitamin D sufficiency.

FDA has identified the following risks to health associated specifically with this type of device and the measures required to mitigate these risks in table 1.

Table 1—Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D Mass Spectrometry Test System Risks and Mitigation Measures

Identified risk	Mitigation measures
Clinical action based on falsely elevated inaccurate Vitamin D results may lead to unnecessary supplementation of Vitamin D	General controls; Special control (1) (21 CFR 862.1840(b)(1)); and, Special control (2) (21 CFR 862.1840(b)(2)).
Clinical action based on falsely low inaccurate Vitamin D results may lead to a delay in supplementation of Vitamin D	General controls; Special control (1) (21 CFR 862.1840(b)(1)); and, Special control (2) (21 CFR 862.1840(b)(2)).
Clinical action based on uninterpretable results due to lack of established device specific reference range values for the representative population	General controls; and, Special control (3) (21 CFR 862.1840(b)(3)).
Clinical action based on the misinterpretation of Vitamin D2 or Vitamin D3 results as total Vitamin D results	General controls; and, Special control (4) (21 CFR 862.1840(b)(4)).

FDA has determined that special controls, in combination with the general controls, address these risks to health and provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. In order for a device to fall within this classification, and thus avoid automatic classification in class III, it would have to comply with the special controls named in this final order. The necessary special controls appear in the regulation codified by this order. This device is subject to premarket notification requirements under section 510(k).

Section 510(m)(2) of the FD&C Act provides that FDA may exempt a class II device from the premarket notification requirements under section 510(k) if, after notice of our intent to exempt and consideration of comments, we determine by order that premarket notification is not necessary to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. We believe this may be such a device. The notice of intent to exempt the device from premarket notification requirements is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

III. Analysis of Environmental Impact

The Agency has determined under 21 CFR 25.34(b) that this action is of a type that does not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This final order establishes special controls that refer to previously approved collections of information found in other FDA regulations. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The collections of information in part 807, subpart E, regarding premarket notification submissions have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0120, and the collections of information in 21 CFR parts 801 and 809, regarding labeling have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0485.

List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 862

• Medical devices

Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR part 862 is amended as follows:

PART 862—CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY DEVICES

1. The authority citation for part 862 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 351, 360, 360c, 360e, 360j, 360l, 371.

2. Add § 862.1840 to subpart B to read as follows:

§ 862.1840

Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D mass spectrometry test system.

(a) Identification. A total 25-hydroxyvitamin D mass spectrometry test system is a device intended for use in clinical laboratories for the quantitative determination of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) in serum or plasma to be used in the assessment of vitamin D sufficiency.

(b) Classification. Class II (special controls). The special controls for this device are:

(1) The device must have initial and annual standardization verification by a certifying vitamin D standardization organization deemed acceptable by FDA.

(2) The 21 CFR 809.10(b) compliant labeling must include detailed descriptions of performance testing conducted to evaluate precision, accuracy, linearity, interference, including the following:

(i) Performance testing of device precision must, at a minimum, use intended sample type with Vitamin D concentrations at medically relevant decision points. At least one sample in the precision studies must be an unmodified patient sample. This testing must evaluate repeatability and reproducibility using a protocol from an FDA-recognized standard.

(ii) Performance testing of device accuracy must include a minimum of 115 serum or plasma samples that span the measuring interval of the device and compare results of the new device to results of a reference method or a legally marketed standardized mass spectrometry based vitamin D assay. The results must be described in the 21 CFR 809.10(b)(12) compliant labeling of the device.

(iii) Interference from vitamin D analogs and metabolites including vitamin D2, vitamin D3, 1-hydroxyvitamin D2, 1-hydroxyvitamin D3, 3-Epi-25-Hydroxyvitamin D2, 3-Epi-25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D2, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, 3-Epi-1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D2, and 3-Epi-1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, 25, 26-Dihydroxyvitamin-D3, 24 (R), 25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3, 23 (R), 25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 must be described in the 21 CFR 809.10(b)(7) compliant labeling of the device.

(3) The 21 CFR 809.10(b) compliant labeling must be supported by a reference range study representative of the performance of the device. The study must be conducted using samples collected from apparently healthy male and female adults at least 21 years of age and older from at least 3 distinct climatic regions within the United States in different weather seasons. The ethnic, racial, and gender background of this study population must be representative of the U.S. population demographics.

(4) The results of the device as provided in the 21 CFR 809.10(b) compliant labeling and any test report generated must be reported as only total 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Dated: October 31, 2017.

Lauren Silvis,

Chief of Staff.