A new white paper is available to assist medical device manufacturers with understanding recent changes to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) thinking regarding endotoxin testing. The paper is available to download from the Web at www.microtestlabs.com.Titled 'FDA Updates Medical Device Endotoxin Testing Program (New Guidance)', the new white paper is authored by Steven G. Richter, Ph.D., a former FDA official, and President and Chief Scientific Officer of Microtest Laboratories, Inc., a leading contract testing laboratory.

In the paper, Dr. Richter discusses the FDA's recently published document, 'Guidance of Industry Pyrogen and Endotoxin Testing: Questions and Answers.' The FDA document replaced the agency's 1987 Endotoxin Guidelines – now considered out of date as a result of changes in the USP and pharmaceutical dosage forms. It presents the agency's current position regarding pyrogen and bacterial endotoxin testing requirements for pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medical devices. Medical devices that contact circulating blood or cerebrospinal fluid, or are used with intraocular products or in vitro fertilization procedures, are required to be endotoxin-free.

In his new white paper, Dr. Richter reviews the FDA's updated guidelines on endotoxin testing and explains how they relate to medical devices. Since the majority of pyrogens found on medical devices are bacterial in nature, the paper focuses on those contaminates.

Some medical devices that are required by the FDA to be tested for endotoxin are:

• Intravenous catheters and tubing

• Cardiac stents and angioplasty balloons

• Certain implants such as pacemakers/defibrillators
• Spinal catheters

• Transfusion catheters

• Intraocular lens implants

• Cranial drills

• Perfusion tubing
• Dialysis tubing and filters

• Vascular grafts

• In vitro fertilization catheters

Download a copy of the new white paper, 'FDA Updates Medical Device Endotoxin Testing Program (New Guidance),' from the Microtest Laboratories. Or, request a copy by calling 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.