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Reporting adverse events for medical devices

Learn how to report adverse events for medical devices in Australia, including requirements, reporting processes, and responsibilities for sponsors and manufacturers.

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Purpose

The primary function of post-market event monitoring is to improve the health and safety of patients, health care professional, users, and others by reducing the likelihood of adverse events being repeated. 

Adverse event reporting allows us to monitor medical device use, monitor their performance in the real world and identify trends that may indicate emerging safety and performance issues. 

These activities allow us to take appropriate regulatory action to address these issues, thereby reducing the impact on the public.

Legislation

Reportable adverse events

It is an automatic condition of inclusion under 5.7 of the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002 that sponsors of a medical device report adverse events or near adverse events to the TGA Incident Reporting and Investigation Scheme (IRIS).

It is important to note that the act of reporting a problem is not an admission of manufacturer, sponsor, user, or patient liability for the event or its consequences.

Only adverse events that occur in Australia are required to be reported to the TGA. 

Adverse events that occur overseas for devices supplied in Australia do not need to be reported to the TGA but records of these events should be available if requested.
 

Note
Any remedial action that arises overseas for devices supplied in Australia must be reported to our recalls team. 

Contact details for the team and more information about how to report this information, see the Procedure for recalls, product alerts and product corrections (PRAC).

Adverse event

An adverse event is an occurrence involving a medical device that meets the following criteria:

  • death of a patient, health care provider, user or other person; or
  • a serious injury or serious deterioration to a patient, health care provider, user or other person, including:
    • a life-threatening illness or injury
    • permanent impairment of a body function
    • permanent damage to a body structure; or
    • a condition necessitating medical or surgical intervention to prevent permanent impairment of a body function or permanent damage to a body structure.

Near adverse event

A 'near adverse event' is an occurrence involving a medical device that might have led to a death or serious injury if, for example, the timely intervention of a healthcare practitioner is the only reason a death or serious injury did not occur. 

For an event to be defined as a near adverse event, it is sufficient that:

  • an event associated with the device occurred; and
  • if the event occurred again, it might lead to death or serious injury as outlined above.

Exemptions for reporting

There are eight exemption rules that can apply to the requirement to report an adverse event.

However, the exemption rules do not apply when:

  • a device, event or issue specifically identified by the TGA as an issue that requires close monitoring - sponsors of devices that are affected will be notified by the TGA when this occurs
  • an adverse event normally subject to a reporting exemption, where a change in trend (usually an increase in frequency) or pattern is identified
  • adverse events associated with user error, as the TGA may use this data to identify trends with similar products that may lead to recommendations for:
    • corrective action for the device
    • revising the labelling or Instructions for Use
    • identifying a need for increased user education.

If a sponsor/manufacturer believes an exemption rule applies to reporting an adverse event, the reasons for not reporting the event should be documented.

The exemption rules were included in a public consultation on proposed enhancements to adverse event reporting and may be revised in the future.

Exemption rules for reporting adverse events to us

Exemption rules for reporting adverse events to the TGA
Rule No.Exemption ruleExamples of adverse events exempt from reporting
1

Deficiency of a new device found by the user prior to its use

Regardless of the existence of provisions in the Instruction for Use provided by the manufacturer, deficiencies of devices that will be always detected by the user and where no serious injury has occurred, do not need to be reported.

If the device is used the exemption does not apply - the event must be reported.

  • A user performs an inflation test (standard procedure) prior to inserting the balloon catheter in the patient as required in the instructions for use accompanying the device. Malfunction on inflation is identified. Another balloon is used. Patient is not injured.
  • Sterile single-use device packaging is labelled with the caution 'do not use if package is opened or damaged'. Opened package seals are discovered prior to use, device is not used.
  • An intravenous administration set tip protector has fallen off the set during distribution resulting in a non-sterile fluid pathway. The intravenous administration set was not used.
2

Adverse event caused solely by patient conditions

When the manufacturer has information that the root cause of the adverse event is due to patient condition, the event does not need to be reported. These conditions could be pre-existing or occurring during device use.

To justify not reporting, the manufacturer should have information available to conclude that the device performed as intended and did not cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. A person qualified to make a medical judgement would accept the same conclusion.

  • An orthopaedic surgeon implants a hip joint and warns against sports-related use. Patient chooses to go water skiing and subsequently requires premature revision.
  • The early revision of an orthopaedic implant due to loosening caused by the patient developing osteoporosis.
  • A patient died after dialysis treatment. The patient had end-stage-renal disease and died of renal failure.
3

Service life of the medical device

The service life is defined as 'the time or usage that a device is intended to remain functional after it is manufactured, placed into use, and maintained as specified'. The service life must be specified by the device manufacturer and included in the master record (technical file).

When the only cause for the adverse event was that the device exceeded its service life and the failure mode is not unusual, the adverse event does not need to be reported.

Assessment of whether an event is exempt from reporting under this rule must be based on the information in the master record, on the label or in Instructions for Use for the device.

  • Loss of sensing after a pacemaker has reached its end of life. The elective replacement indicator has shown up in due time according to the device specification. Surgical explanation of pacemaker is required.
  • A drill bit was used beyond the end of its specified life. It fractured during invasive operation. Operation time was prolonged due to the difficulty to retrieve the broken parts.
4

Protection against a fault functioned correctly

Adverse events that did not lead to serious injury or death, because a design feature protected against a fault becoming a hazardous situation (in accordance with relevant standards or documented design inputs) do not need to be reported. • An infusion pump stops, due to a malfunction, but gives an appropriate alarm (for example, in compliance with relevant standards) and there was no injury to the patient.

  • Microprocessor-controlled radiant warmers malfunction and provide an audible appropriate alarm, in compliance with relevant standards and there was no injury to the patient.
  • During radiation treatment, the automatic exposure control is engaged and the treatment stops. Although the patient receives less than an optimal dose, the patient is not exposed to excess radiation.
5

Remote likelihood of occurrence of death or serious injury

Adverse events that could lead, but have not yet led, to death or serious injury, but have a remote likelihood of causing death or serious injury, and which have been established and documented as acceptable after risk assessment do not need to be reported.

If an adverse event resulting in death or serious injury occurs, the adverse event is reportable and a reassessment of the risk is necessary. If reassessment determines that the risk remains remote, previous reports of near incidents of the same type do not need to be reported retrospectively. Decisions not to report subsequent failures of the same type must be documented.

A change in the trend (usually an increase in frequency) of these non-serious outcomes must be reported.

  • The manufacturer of a pacemaker supplied to the market identified a software bug and determined that the likelihood of occurrence of a serious injury with a particular setting is remote. No patients experienced any adverse health effects.
  • The manufacturer of blood donor sets obtains repeated complaints of minor leaks of blood from these sets. No patient injuries from blood loss or infections of staff have been reported. The chance of infection or blood loss has been re-evaluated by manufacturer and deemed remote.
6

Expected and foreseeable side effects that are documented in manufacturer's Instructions for Use or labelling

Side effects that are clearly identified in the manufacturer's labelling or are clinically well known as being foreseeable and having a certain functional or numerical predictability when the device was used as intended need not be reported.

Some of these events are well known in the medical, scientific, or technology fields. Others may have been clearly identified during clinical investigation and labelled by the manufacturer.

Documentation, including the risk assessment, for the particular side effect should be available in the device master record prior to the occurrence of adverse events. The manufacturer cannot conclude in the face of events that they are foreseeable unless there is prior supporting information.

  • A patient receives a second-degree burn during the use of an external defibrillator in an emergency. The risk assessment documents that such a burn has been accepted in view of the potential patient benefit and a warning is provided in the Instructions for Use. The frequency of burns is occurring within range specified in the device master record.
  • A patient has an undesirable tissue reaction that is previously known and documented in the device master record.
  • A patient who has a mechanical heart valve developed endocarditis ten years after implantation and then died.
  • Placement of central line catheter results in an anxiety reaction and shortness of breath. Both reactions are known and labelled side effects.
7

Adverse events described in an advisory notice

Adverse events that occur after the manufacturer has issued an advisory notice need not be reported individually if they are specified in the notice. Advisory notices include removals from the market, corrective actions, and product recalls. The manufacturer should provide a summary report, the content and frequency of which should be agreed with the TGA.

A manufacturer issued an advisory notice and undertook a recall of a coronary stent that migrated due to inadequate inflation of an attached balloon mechanism. Subsequent examples of stent migration were summarised in quarterly reports required for the recall action and individual adverse events did not have to be reported.
8

Reporting exemptions granted by the TGA

Upon request by the sponsor, common and well-documented events may be exempted by the TGA from reporting or changed to periodic reporting on a case-by-case basis.

 

Information required for reporting

Ultimately the following information must be provided to the TGA's IRIS system in relation to an adverse event or near adverse event (the event):

  • The source of the report including contact details for the reporter.
  • Identification of the device (provide as much information as possible including, but not limited to, model name, trade name, UPI, UDI, batch numbers, serial numbers, software revision number, etc.)
  • The ARTG number the device was supplied under (can be active or cancelled).
  • The date of the event.
  • A detailed description of the event.
  • If implantable, date of implant and if applicable, date of explant
  • Details of any investigations and corrective actions undertaken by the sponsor and/or manufacturer following notification of the event.
  • Information on similar events information and supply data.

The adverse event will be 'coded' by our staff with the relevant adverse event reporting terminologies defined by the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) using the information provided in the adverse event report. 

While some international regulators require the manufacturer to undertake the coding, in Australia, we currently perform this task when assessing the adverse event report. 

These codes assist in internationally harmonised trend analysis of adverse event reports.

It is possible that initially the sponsor will not have all of this information available. There are three stages of report submission associated with adverse events and near adverse events:

Note
There are legislative time frames associated with the provision of an initial report. These time frames relate to the severity of the event and are outlined below.

Initial report

Initial report

Sponsors must make an initial report in line with the legislative time frame and provide additional information as it becomes available. 

The time frames governing the initial reporting of the event are set out in the Regulations.

Timeframe for initial report
Type of eventTimeframe for initial report
Events that represent a serious threat to public healthForty-eight (48) hours after you become aware of the event or occurrence
If the event leads to death or a serious deterioration in the state of health, of a patient, a user of the device, or another personTen (10) days after you become aware of the event or occurrence
An event, occurrence or recurrence which might lead to the death, or a serious deterioration in the state of health, of a patient, a user of the device, or another personThirty (30) days after you become aware of the event or occurrence

Follow-up report

We acknowledge that the manufacturer's investigation of some events will take time. 

You are expected to provide us with information regarding the status of any internal manufacturing investigation at regular intervals and no less than every thirty (30) calendar days.

Final report

Sponsors must make a final report within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days of the submission of an initial report. 

We expect that the manufacturer has had sufficient time to undertake a detailed investigation of the reported adverse event. 

Your final report should ensure that all requisite information as outlined under “What do I need to report?” has been provided to the TGA. 

We will push back reports that do not contain the information required to meet these obligations. Sponsors should pay particular attention to the provision of any similar event information, corrective and preventative actions (CAPA), and manufacturer's device analysis.

Note
Similar events: Sponsors must provide information about similar events, for the previous three (3) years, to the adverse event within the "Other Similar Events Manufacturer/Sponsor Aware of" field of their final report. 

Similar event information allows us to develop a clearer picture of the incidence of the reported event both in Australia and worldwide. 

The help text within the MDIR reporting form provides clear guidance in relation to the required content and structure for this information. Reports that deviate from this content and structure will be pushed back for correction.

How to report an adverse event

Sponsors of medical devices included in the ARTG are strongly encouraged to submit reportable adverse events electronically through the Medical Device Incident Reporting MDIR application contained within the TGA TBS portal. 

Guidance for use of the MDIR application can be found at Medical Device Incident Reporting (MDIR) guide.

Note
Breaching conditions of inclusion including failure to report adverse events or near adverse events within the relevant time frames may lead to suspension or cancellation of the device from the ARTG (section 41G of the Act). 

In some instances, failure to meet these requirements may result constitute a criminal and civil offence (section 41MN of the Act).

Related links

Overview of adverse event reporting for medical devices
Medical device adverse events
Product types
Topics

Page history

Show all page updates (4)

Title changed from 'Adverse event reporting' to 'Reporting adverse events for medical devices ' as part of migration to new 'Guidance' content type:

  • Consistent ‘Purpose’ heading.
  • ‘Legislation’ section to clearly show which laws the Guidance relates to.
  • ‘Page history’ section replaces document version history.
  • New page navigation features.
  • Updated page summaries.
  • Complex images include long descriptions.
  • New ‘Save as PDF’ feature.

Amended date of final adverse event report and additional information in line with amendments to the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002.    

Added 'Exemptions for reporting' section.

Original publication.

Title changed from 'Adverse event reporting' to 'Reporting adverse events for medical devices ' as part of migration to new 'Guidance' content type:

  • Consistent ‘Purpose’ heading.
  • ‘Legislation’ section to clearly show which laws the Guidance relates to.
  • ‘Page history’ section replaces document version history.
  • New page navigation features.
  • Updated page summaries.
  • Complex images include long descriptions.
  • New ‘Save as PDF’ feature.

Amended date of final adverse event report and additional information in line with amendments to the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002.    

Added 'Exemptions for reporting' section.

Original publication.