The core of the ISO Standard is confirmation of the fitness of the device for its intended use. The first step in this process is chemical characterization of device components.
Biological testing is probably the most critical step in a biocompatibility evaluation. The ISO materials biocompatibility matrix categorizes devices based on the type and duration of body contact. It also presents a list of potential biological effects. For each device category, certain effects must be considered and addressed in the regulatory submission for that device. ISO 10993-1 does not prescribe a specific battery of tests for any particular medical device. Rather, it provides a framework that can be used to design a biocompatibility testing program.
Device designers should generally consult with an experienced device toxicologist and their clinical investigators to determine how best to meet the requirements of the materials biocompatibility matrix. For each biological effect category, the rationale for the testing strategy should be documented. This is especially true when a manufacturer decides not to perform testing for an effect specified by the matrix for their category of devices.