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IVD sponsors: a roadmap to market

Road map for Australian sponsors of IVDs

This road map presents an overview of the requirements for supplying an IVD for Australian sponsors.

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This road map is for Australian sponsors of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) medical devices.

You will find out the requirements for supplying and IVD under the medical devices regulatory framework.

The appropriate pathway is determined by the manufacturer's classification of the IVD.

IVD overall process diagram

The detailed flowchart illustrates an application process for inclusion in the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods). The flowchart begins with a "Pre-submission meeting" step, followed by "Application for inclusion" and payment of application fees. 

If an application is considered effective, there is preliminary assessment. If it passes this step, the process branches into different pathways including "Application Without Audit" and two audit paths - "Non-mandatory Audit" and "Mandatory Audit." If it fails preliminary assessment, there is notification to the applicants. 

Each pathway includes various decision points, requests for information, data collection steps, and assessment procedures. The flowchart shows outcomes such as "Application lapses," "Decision to include or not include in the ARTG," and "Contact relevant entities (e.g. ACMD)." There are multiple yes/no decision diamonds throughout the process, and a note indicating that "Application can be withdrawn at any point." 

How we regulate IVDs

An IVD is any medical device which is a reagent, calibrator, control material, kit, specimen receptacle, software, instrument, apparatus, equipment or system, whether used alone or in combination (with other diagnostic goods for in vitro use), intended by the manufacturer to be used in vitro for the examination of specimens derived from the human body, solely or principally for the purpose of giving information about a physiological or pathological state, a congenital abnormality or to determine safety and compatibility with a potential recipient or to monitor therapeutic measures.

Sponsors applying for an eBusiness Services account

Applications for inclusion on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) are submitted electronically through the TGA Business Services (TBS) portal. New sponsors will need to establish an eBusiness Services account to access eBusiness Services.

The manufacturers must classify the IVD according to the classification rules, based on the intended purpose of the IVD.

The Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) is a collection of internationally recognised terms, each with a unique number that is used to accurately describe and catalogue medical devices. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to assign the appropriate GMDN.

Requirements for manufacturer's evidence

Australian manufacturers of IVD medical devices are required to have acceptable conformity assessment evidence based on the classification of the device. The evidence for class 2 to 4 IVDs can include conformity assessment certificates issues by the TGA or evidence from a comparable overseas regulator.

Declaration of Conformity

It is strongly recommended that sponsors obtain the manufacturer’s Declaration of Conformity before applying to include a medical device on the ARTG.

Conformity Assessment procedure for IVDs

Manufacturers of IVD medical devices may choose to seek conformity assessment certification from the TGA.

Sponsors submits manufacturer's evidence through eBusiness Services

Only the QMS certificate should be submitted as manufacturer’s evidence. Any other information such as the Declaration of Conformity and other information will be requested by the TGA when required. When submitting new evidence through eBusiness Services, ensure ALL product GMDNs applicable to the scope of that evidence are entered prior to finalising the submission. Once manufacturer’s evidence has been accepted, details relating to the manufacturer, sponsor and GMDN codes will be linked to the medical device application as it is submitted through eBusiness Services.

IVDs of the "same kind of medical device" can be included by a sponsor under a single medical device application

The "same kind" of medical device has:

  • same sponsor
  • same manufacturer
  • same GMDN
  • same risk classification

Class 4 IVDs are only considered to be of the "same kind" if in addition to the above, they also have the same Unique Product Identifier (UPI)

Please note: Companion Diagnostics that are Class 3 IVD medical devices also have the same UPI.

When lodging an application, the sponsor must certify the following:

  • The product is a medical device and is intended for a specific purpose
  • The IVD is correctly classified according to the rules
  • The IVD complies with the Australian essential principles for quality, safety and performance, and information is available to substantiate compliance
  • An appropriate conformity assessment procedure has been applied to the IVD, and sufficient information is available to substantiate the application of the conformity assessment procedures
  • The IVD complies with advertising requirements
  • The IVD does not contain any substances prohibited from import into Australia
  • All information included in or with the application is complete and correct
    • These are procedures in place with the manufacturer to obtain and submit to the TGA any information required, within period specified in the request for information. This may include evidence of compliance, the declaration of conformity, etc. (refer to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, Section 41FD)

Also see:

Application audit of IVD medical devices

As per our regulation, the following high-risk IVD medical devices will undergo mandatory application audit, if they are NOT supported by comparable overseas regulator certification:

  • IVDs used for self-testing
  • Point of care tests
  • Class 3 IVDs
  • Class 4 IVDs
  • Class 4 in-house IVDs

Any other application may be selected for a non-mandatory application audit.

Sponsors are only invoiced an assessment fee for IVDs undergoing a mandatory application audit

Applications that are selected by the TGA for a non-mandatory application audit do not attract an assessment fee.

TGA includes the IVD on the ARTG

A public summary of the IVD will be available on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

Manufacturers and sponsors have ongoing responsibilities once their products are included on the ARTG

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