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Biological Safety Evaluation for Market Approval

Medical devices must be designed and manufactured to minimize risks to patients, healthcare professionals and end users. Manufacturers are responsible for demonstrating safety and biocompatibility of patient-contacting devices, a requirement that applies broadly, regardless of submission requirements.

A Foundation for Regulatory Compliance
Biocompatibility evaluations, conducted in line with ISO 10993-1, provide the objective data needed to identify hazards, estimate risks and determine the need for biological safety or chemical characterization testing. This evidence is essential for regulatory submissions, including FDA premarket submissions (510(k) and PMA filings), EU MDR technical documentation and other international approvals.

Hohenstein provides ISO 17025-accredited, GLP-compliant testing and scientific expertise to design targeted biocompatibility strategies — giving you one trusted partner for FDA, EU and global market approval.

Biological Safety Testing Framework

ISO 10993-1:

  • Defines the evaluation and testing within a risk management process
  • Provides the decision table of biological endpoints by device category and contact type
  • Is the framework for biological safety assessment used in both FDA and EU MDR submissions

Medical device biocompatibility follows a structured process

  1. A Biological Evaluation Plan (BEP) defines risks and data gaps
  2. If the BEP shows gaps, biological endpoint testing addresses potential hazards
    Depending on the device, this may first require extractables and leachables (E&L) studies followed by a toxicological risk assessment (TRA)
  3. The Biological Evaluation Report (BER) compiles all evidence to confirm biological safety and regulatory compliance

Tests for Biological Safety of Medical Devices

Our testing portfolio delivers the biocompatibility data and documentation required for global market approval.
Pre-market

Pre-Market Submission Support

  • Material Selection Validation - Confirm biological safety for 510(k), PMA, De Novo and EU MDR submissions
  • Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA) - Biological safety evaluation using ISO 10993-17 and ICH guidelines
  • Material Performance Analysis - Test properties after aging, degradation and real-world use
  • Cleaning & Reprocessing Validation - ISO 17664 protocols recognized by regulators worldwide
Post-market

Post-Market Compliance & Monitoring

  • Ongoing Safety Monitoring - Product performance and safety assessment per global post-market surveillance requirements
  • Multi-Market Documentation - FDA, EU MDR and international filing requirements
  • Quality System Integration - Alignment with FDA QSR, ISO 13485 and global quality standards
Biological Assessment

In-Vitro Biological Safety Testing

Testing for Cytotoxic, Allergenic and Irritant Effects

We provide GLP-compliant testing that reduces the need for animal studies. Services include:

  • ISO 10993-5: Cytotoxicity testing
    Cell culture assays for cytotoxic substances
  • ISO 10993-10, Annex C: Sensitization testing
    In-chemico and in-vitro methods (DPRA, KeratinoSens™, U-SENS™)
  • ISO 10993-23: Irritation testing
    Human 3D skin model for irritation potential
  • HET-CAM (DB-ALM Method No. 96): Skin irritation and mucosal damage testing
    Validated alternative to animal irritation models
  • DIN EN ISO 10993-12: Sample preparation
    Standardized extraction and test protocols
Chemical Characterization

Chemical Characterization of Medical Device Materials

ISO 10993-18

Understanding which substances may be released from your device materials is essential for FDA, EU MDR and other global submissions. Our GLP-certified, ISO/IEC 17025–accredited lab performs extractables and leachables testing (E&L) with advanced analytical methods to support toxicological risk assessment and biological evaluation.

Ageing & Storage

Ageing and Shelf Life in Biocompatibility

Device safety extends beyond initial testing. Materials can change over time due to storage, transport or sterilization, which may alter their biological response. As part of a biocompatibility strategy, ageing and shelf-life studies provide evidence that your device will continue to meet ISO 10993 requirements throughout its intended lifecycle.

  • Regulatory bodies expect biocompatibility to reflect the entire shelf life of a device
  • Chemical and physical changes may impact cytotoxicity, sensitization or irritation outcomes
  • Ageing studies support both risk assessment and regulatory submissions
Ventilators

Biocompatibility of Breathing Gas Pathways

For ventilators, inhalation devices and respiratory pathways, ISO 18562 offers the recognized framework for assessing biological safety. Testing is performed as part of the risk management process and includes:

  • ISO 18562-2: Particle emissions
  • ISO 18562-3: Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions
  • ISO 18562-4: Leachables in condensates

Accredited for Regulatory Confidence

Hohenstein is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certified for biological, chemical and physical testing. This ensures validated methods, reliable data and regulatory-accepted reports for FDA, EU MDR and other global submissions.
GLP-certified laboratory logo indicating Hohenstein's compliance with Good Laboratory Practice for medical device testing
Contact
Ben Mead
Managing Director
Hohenstein Americas