This episode of Chasing Compliance is for those working on regulatory submissions for in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) medial devices. Today we talk to our resident Performance Evaluation Report (PER) expert, Bethany Hosford provides suggestions on how to improve your EU IVD regulatory submissions including PERs and their associated documents.

2:15 – Brief background of the In vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) and the Performance Evaluation Report (PER)

3:15 – Items to tackle prior to beginning to write PER

4:15 – Bethany’s recommendation for starting the PER process

1.  Collect as many source documents as possible (eg design files, technical file, risk documentation etc) early int he process.
2. Collect and review all clinical and analytical data available. Try to identify gaps early.
3. Plan the report – what is your strategy? What claims do you need to support? Which General Safety and Performance Requirements (GSPRs) apply?
4. Write your Performance Evaluation Plan (PEP). Clearly characterize your data sources information and strategy for the PER.

6:30 – Tips for finding clinical data or addressing gaps for challenging IVDs. Bethany answers the question, what do you do if you device is mentioned in several articles, but it isn’t a focus?

9:15 – Do you need to consider your audience when preparing a PER? If yes, how should you do that?

10:30 – What is the best approach for reviewing and summarizing data? Should it be done piecemeal or holistically.

12:00 – Tips for writing associated documents such as the Analytical Performance Report (APR), Scientific Validity Report (SVR), and Clinical Performance Report (CPR).

14:10 – What is required to determine scientific and clinical validity in the case of a companion diagnostic (CDx) or other IVD? Where is this information found? BRCA – Gene which is highly associated with the development of breast cancer

18:00 – When is enough data enough? How do you know you have enough clinical data? What if you don’t have clinical data, what should you do? 

20:45 – Bethany’s tips for preparing to write a PER. Key takeaways:

1. Understand the scope of your document.
2. Ensure you have a well-defined, MDR/IVDR compliant purpose statement.
3. Identify your claims and make sure you have the data to support those claims.
4. Make sure your data, claims, purpose, and scope are all aligned prior to writing.
5. Ensure you have all appropriate tests and documentation pertaining to the IVD under evaluation.

24:45 – What to do if you find you are missing data or have data gaps during the writing process.

28:45 – What should you do if you don’t fully understand the device you are working on or how to best summarize clinical or analytical data?

30:15 – Summary of topics discussed up to this point and Bethany’s tips for staying organized throughout the PER writing process.

33:45 – Generally, how long does it take to write a PER? What are your tips for pacing?

35:15 – Bethany’s tips for finalizing a PER.

40:00 – What is the value of templates in the PER writing process? 

Ready to take your technical writing to the next level, but not sure where to start? Would you like to learn some tips to freshen up your writing approach? In this episode and the next we share more of our favorite tips and tricks for technical writing. Our guide, Jennifer Petrie Signore, PhD has spent years working to become the best and most versatile technical writer possible, and she shares her tips with you. In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics, such as:

• Document review and completion
• Software tools for technical writers
• How to better leverage the tools you use each day
• When to involve your teammates
• How to improve the review process

1:30 – Recap of last episode.

2:30 – What is Jenn’s process for finishing a document. 

5:15 – How to make Microsoft Word work for you and speed up your writing process. Jenn discusses tools within word which help improve the writing process, such as:

• Document sections
• Styles tool
• Table properties
• Table anchors
• Page layout (eg landscape and portrait)

9:45 – Other types of software which may help your writing process, such as:

• Excel
• EndNote – Reference Manager
• Perfect It

17:30 – Jenn provides her tips for finalizing documents including how to conduct final editing and revision activities. In summary:

• Step away
• Ask a colleague for help
• Tips for editing and revision.

22:00 – Review as a team effort: tips for leveraging teammates and colleagues. When is it time to hand a document over? When is it appropriate to reach out for feedback?

31:45 – Final thoughts, summary, and wrap-up