Post-Market Surveillance (PMS) for IVDs

As a manufacturer you are requested to pursue active market observation and develop defined post-market surveillance (PMS) strategies for each product or each product family. This puts you in the position to identify and eliminate rare complications and problems across the entire product life cycle that could not be identified before placing the product on the market.

Activities for post-market surveillance may include: processing of complaints; surveying patients, users, technicians and carriers; analyzing hotline feedback to reviews from the app store; researching scientific literature or databases of surveillance authorities for incidents and recalls, as well as post-market performance follow-up (PMPF). Any activity that does not relate to a specific incident is regarded as active. Together we develop a strategy that will allow you to integrate this data efficiently into your performance evaluation and consequently to save a considerable amount of time and labor costs for the update.

Post-market performance follow-up (PMPF) studies are so-called market surveillance studies conducted for IVD (in vitro diagnostic) medical devices with legitimate CE marking. The IVD medical device must be applied within its intended use. These studies serve the aim of generating further clinical data and incorporating it in the performance evaluation report (PER).

We structure your internal post-market surveillance processes and deliver ideas how you may incorporate this data into your performance evaluation efficiently. If the results indicate that you need to conduct a PMPF study, we plan this study efficiently and ensure smooth implementation.

Let's take your PMS strategy to the next level – structured, efficient, and fully compliant.

Get in touch for a non-binding consultation.

Our services in detail

Post-Market Surveillance with Metecon: Focused on Safety and Performance
Keeping your IVDs under control through post-market surveillance for long-term success and compliance

Together with you, we develop and implement tailored PMS strategies that go beyond mere compliance and uncover optimization potential within your organization.

Always up to date - without extra effort from your team:
Thanks to our Live PMS Ticker, you always have an eye on global PMS requirements. You'll be notified in real time whenever changes affect your existing system - enabling fast and targeted action.

Design an efficient and future-proof PMS process:
We support you in selecting and implementing digital tools that streamline and automate your PMS system in the long term.

More confidence within your team - regulatory and operational:
We provide hands-on training for your team on current PMS requirements and show how to save resources and simplify processes with targeted measures.

Enter international markets without double the effort:
We assess your current setup and adapt it for international use. This allows you to expand your market presence without having to completely rebuild your PMS system.

Reliable surveillance without draining your resources:
Our tailored PMS strategies are precisely aligned with your products and internal processes - designed to avoid unnecessary effort and maximize safety.

Early detection of issues with clear, data-driven responses:
We systematically analyze your PMS data and derive concrete actions, so you can stay ahead both from a regulatory and business perspective.

Documentation that truly relieves your workload:
Whether it's a PMS plan, PMS report, or PSUR: We create and maintain your documents in a way that meets all requirements and integrates relevant data seamlessly into your technical documentation.

Well-prepared for authority interactions:
We support you in communication with authorities and notified bodies - ensuring your PMS activities are well-documented and clearly presented.

Isn't it time we got to know each other?

IVDR: Product lifecycle reporting

The IVDR defines new responsibilities for you as an IVD medical device manufacturer such as the regular preparation of plans and reports. Some updates follow a fixed schedule, others need to be integrated in this cycle reasonably.

The figure shows the plans and reports in a logical sequence. This makes it easier to identify interdependencies. The collection of clinical data must be planned already during product development. After approval you are in a continuous process of preparing plans and reports throughout the entire product life cycle.

To comply with all requirements and be able to provide all documents in a timely manner, the individual stages need to be aligned carefully.
[CR #494746] IVDR: Product Life Cycle Reporting[/CR]

Explanation of the stages

+1 - DPO (Development Phases Outline)
At the beginning of the development process, the clinical development plan defines how you will collect sufficient clinical data for later clinical evaluation. This may include exploratory investigations, first-in-man studies, feasibility and pilot studies, to confirmatory investigations; an outlook for possible PMCF activities is also possible at this stage.
+2 - PEP (Performance Evaluation Plan)
Prior to conducting the clinical evaluation, the clinical evaluation plan defines the scope of the clinical evidence. Available pre- and clinical data, remaining residual risks, newly identified risks (from PMS/PMCF/complaints) as well as all other claims (also from marketing) are considered. Afterwards, clinically relevant questions as well as open questions from risk management are derived. Finally, the search strategy is defined (sources, search terms, selection and evaluation criteria) that is to be applied for the clinical evaluation.
+3 - PER (Performance Evaluation Report)
The clinical evaluation report represents the results of the clinical evaluation. At this stage, clinical data is collected, selected, evaluated, and analyzed from the device or devices for which it has been demonstrated that they are equivalent to the device. It is checked whether the device meets the requirements for safety, performance, undesired side effects and the benefit-risk ratio defined by the MDR. Furthermore, currently available alternative treatment options also have to be taken into consideration. Finally, the need for further clinical data is discussed (PMCF activities) and passed on to PMS.
+4 - PMS Plan/PMPF Plan/SSP (Summary of Safety and Performance)
In the PMS plan the manufacturer defines how the device will be monitored after the market launch and which data is to be collected. Product-specific planning of activities needs to take into account the findings from the clinical evaluation and the device’s risk potential. Furthermore, the methodologies for analyzing the data and the criteria for the analysis are defined. The manufacturer is responsible for collecting the data on the market proactively.

Post-market clinical follow-up (PMCF) is part of PMS. PMCF is to close the gaps that could not be answered in the scope of the clinical evaluation (e.g. long-term behavior, monitoring of side effects and contra indications). The PMCF plan describes methodologies and procedures for the proactive collection and evaluation of clinical data. The extent may vary considerably depending on the PMCF activities. Therefore, a PMCF master plan may well be established at this point that refers to different PMCF plans defining the individual activities.
+5 - Proactive PMS: Vigilance Report, PMPF Report, Trends
An SSCP report must be prepared only by manufacturers of class III and implantable devices. The report is referenced in the user manual or the label and is made publicly available via EUDAMED. The report must be written in such manner as to be comprehensible for laypersons. The purpose of the short report is to introduce the device in the context of its application and explain alternative therapeutic or diagnostic options as well as residual risks and undesirable effects. Prior to publication, the report is validated by the notified body, which will then upload the report to EUDAMED. Content and format of the representation may be defined by the commission.
+6 - PSUR/PMS Report
The proactive PMS phase is where you conduct your PMCF activities and collect and evaluate market data. The strategies you defined in the PMS plan have to ensure that reportable events such as vigilance cases and trends may be identified and reported in a timely manner.

Vigilance: Describes the reporting of serious incidents and field safety corrective actions to the authority. For this purpose, every manufacturer needs an appropriate system in which it is ensured that the evaluation and analysis of such events is enabled and that the deadlines for reporting them may be adhered to. Reporting is carried out via EUDAMED.

PMCF: The results of PMCF activities are documented and analyzed in one or several PMCF reports. The extent of analysis may vary considerably depending on the PMCF activity. The conclusions of the PMCF report must be taken into account for the PSUR/PMS report and furthermore for the clinical evaluation and risk management.

Trends: Statistically significant increases in the frequency or severity of non-serious incidents or expected undesirable side effects must be reported to the responsible authority provided they affect the benefit-risk ratio. By comparing your observations to the expectations from risk analysis, you will arrive at a conclusion whether an increase is significant. The PMS plan must define a methodology how to identify trends reliably. In addition, the observation period has to be defined.