scope:

This International Standard specifies requirements and guidance for processing practices and managing risk associated with viable cellular components of products regulated as medicinal products, biologics, medical devices and active implantable medical devices, or combinations thereof. It covers viable human materials of autologous as well as allogeneic human origin, obtained from living or deceased donors. For manufacturers of medical products containing viable cells of human origin, this International Standard specifies procedures to be used in processing and handling, as well as those to be used in identifying the hazards and hazardous situations associated with such cells, in order to estimate and evaluate the resulting risks, to control these risks, and to monitor the effectiveness of that control. Furthermore, this International Standard outlines the decision process for the residual risk acceptability, taking into account the balance of residual risk and expected medical benefit as compared to available alternatives. This International Standard provides requirements and guidance on risk management related to the hazards typical of medical products manufactured utilizing viable human materials, such as: a) contamination by bacteria, moulds, yeasts or parasites; b) contamination by viruses; c) contamination by agents causing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE); d) contaminating material responsible for undesired pyrogenic, immunological or toxicological reactions; e) decomposition of the product and degradation products caused by inadequate handling; f) hazards related to the tumorigenic potential of the cell types used; g) complications resulting from unintended physiological and anatomical consequences (this includes unintended migration of cells, unwanted release of biologically active substances such as hormones and cytokines, and unintended interactions between cellular and non-cellular components of the product); h) failure of traceability; i) complications resulting from the material eliciting an unintended immunogenic reaction. For the evaluation of contamination with other unclassified pathogenic entities, similar principles might be applicable. Hazards related to genetic modification are outside the scope of this International Standard and are addressed elsewhere.