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Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff - Assembler's Guide to Diagnostic X-Ray Equipment

FinalCenter for Devices and Radiological Health02/21/2023

Description

The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is charged with the responsibility for enforcing regulations created under the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-602) (the Act). The Act was later moved to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) with the passage of the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990, in a new section entitled Electronic Product Radiation Control (EPRC), under Subchapter V – Part C. The regulations written under the Act are covered in 21 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter J, and the Diagnostic X-ray Performance Standards for Electronic Products. These regulations cover the manufacturing, importing, and installation of equipment that emits electronic product radiation to achieve its intended purpose or as a byproduct of meeting its intended purpose. Specific regulations under "Diagnostic x-ray systems and their major components" (21 CFR 1020.30), "Radiographic equipment" (21 CFR 1020.31), "Fluoroscopic equipment" (21 CFR 1020.32), and "Computed tomography (CT) equipment," (21 CFR 1020.33) cover aspects of the performance of each listed type of equipment and place specific requirements on the manufacturers, importers, dealers, distributors, and assemblers of the covered equipment.  The term “Performance Standards” will be used in this document to refer to these regulations collectively known as the Performance Standards for Diagnostic X-ray Systems and Their Major Components. This document addresses only requirements that apply to diagnostic x-ray equipment under the EPRC provisions of the FD&C Act.  This document does not address requirements that apply to such equipment under the medical device provisions of the FD&C Act.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

5
Diagnostic X-Ray Equipment

Guidance for manufacturers of diagnostic x-ray equipment regarding radiation control regulations.; Subject of the radiation control regulations; Clarification of Radiation Control Regulations For Manufacturers of Diagnostic X-Ray Equipment; General category of equipment covered by the guidance; subject of the radiation control regulations

x-ray system

Equipment subject to assembly and reassembly reporting

General purpose x-ray systems

Classification for performance standards

Computed tomography (CT) systems

Not considered general-purpose radiographic systems

Mammographic x-ray system

Classified as other than general purpose

Stakeholders

4
Assembler

Entity responsible for installing and testing diagnostic x-ray systems.; Person engaged in assembling, replacing, or installing components into a diagnostic x-ray system.; Person or entity responsible for installing and testing x-ray components.; Person or entity responsible for installing x-ray components; Individual or firm responsible for installing and reporting x-ray equipment

subcontractor

Independent contractor performing assemblies for distributors

purchaser

Recipient of the report of assembly copy

Manufacturer

Entity responsible for submitting NDINs

Regulatory Context

Attributes

5
Certification Label

Label declaring that products meet the performance regulations.

Date of Assembly

Date the unit is turned over to the facility as ready for use on patients

compatibility

Requirement for components to function together within a system.

Manufacturer Specified Compatibility

Type of compatibility defined by manufacturers of certified components.

source-to-image-receptor distance (SID)

Technical parameter for classifying x-ray systems

Identified Hazards

Hazards

2
accidental radiation occurrence

Event resulting in injurious or potentially injurious exposure to electronic product radiation.

potentially hazardous situations

Issues to be documented in the Comments section of the form

Related CFR Sections (9)

See Also (8)