FDA In Brief: FDA Issues Final Orders Reclassifying Certain Hepatitis C Diagnostic Tests from Class III to Class II

FDA in Brief

• For Immediate Release: November 19, 2021

The following quote is attributed to Timothy Stenzel, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health in FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health:

“Today’s action allows manufacturers of certain types of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) tests to seek marketing clearance through the less burdensome premarket notification (510(k)) pathway rather than submitting a premarket approval application (PMA), the most stringent type of FDA medical device review.

We are confident that following reclassification, with adherence to the special controls, these devices will continue to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the reclassification may support the potential for more manufacturers to develop these tests, which can increase competition and increase access to these important tests.

These reclassifications will also benefit the Department of Health and Human Services’ Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, as increased access to tests will likely aid patients in seeking the appropriate treatment and likely reduce transmission.”
 

Additional Information

• Today, the FDA issued two final orders, reclassifying certain HCV diagnostic tests from class III to II. These orders allow these HCV tests to use FDA’s 510(k) pathway rather than the PMA pathway.
• The two types of HCV diagnostic tests being reclassified are nucleic acid-based HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) devices intended for the qualitative or quantitative detection or genotyping of HCV RNA and certain HCV antibody devices intended for the qualitative detection of HCV.