E7-2468. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Administrative Procedures for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1998 Categorization

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information including each proposed extension for an existing collection of information and to allow 60 days for public commein response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on administrative procedures for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) categorization.

DATES:

Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of information by April 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to: http://www.fda.gov/​dockets/​ecomments. Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denver Presley, Jr., Office of the Chief Information Officer (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857,301-827-1472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Administrative Procedures for CLIA Categorization (42 CFR 493.17)

A draft guidance document entitled “Guidance for Administrative Procedures for CLIA Categorization” was released for comment on August 14, 2000. The document describes procedures FDA will use to assign the complexity category to a device. Typically, FDA assigns complexity categorizations to devices at the time of clearance or approval of the device. In this way, no additional burden is incurred by the manufacturer since the labeling (including operating instructions) is included in the 510(k) or PMA. In some cases, however, a manufacturer may request CLIA categorization even if FDA is not simultaneously reviewing a 510(k) or PMA. One example is when a manufacturer requests that FDA assign CLIA categorization to a previously cleared device that has changed names since the original CLIA categorization. Another example is when a device is exempt from premarket review. In such cases, the guidance recommends that manufacturers provide FDA with a copy of the package insert for the device and a cover letter indicating why the manufacturer is requesting a categorization (e.g. name change, exempt from 510(k) review). The draft guidance recommends that in the correspondence to FDA the manufacturer should identify the product code and classification as well as reference to the original 510(k) when this is available.

A previous 60-day notice that published August 14, 2000 (65 FR 49582) announced the availability of a draft guidance and did not include a Paperwork Analysis Section. This 60-day notice for public comment supersedes that notice and is correcting that error.

FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows:

Table 1.—Estimated Annual Reporting Burden¹

CFR Section	No. of Respondents	Annual Frequency per Response	Total Annual Responses	Hours per Responses	Total Hours	Total Operating & Maintenance Costs
42 CFR 493.17	60	15	900	1 hr	900 hr	$45,000
Total	60	15	900	1 hr	900 hr	$45,000
1 There are no capital costs associated with this collection of information.

The number of respondents is approximately 60. On average, each respondent will request categorizations (independent of a 510(k) or PMA) 15 times per year. The cost, not including personnel, is estimated at $50. This includes the cost of copying and mailing copies of package inserts and a cover letter, which includes a statement of the reason for the request and reference to the original 510(k) numbers, including regulation numbers and product codes.

Dated: February 7, 2007.

Jeffrey Shuren,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.