Article 56 of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 requires manufacturers to plan, conduct, and document a performance evaluation covering scientific validity, analytical performance, and clinical performance across the device's lifetime. The evaluation is documented in a Performance Evaluation Plan and Report and updated through Post-Market Performance Follow-up.

Why it matters

Performance evaluation is the IVDR analogue to the MDR clinical evaluation but with three pillars, not one. Notified bodies expect each pillar to be evidenced with its own dataset and pre-specified acceptance criteria before CE certification.

Common pitfalls

•Merging the three pillars into a single narrative. Notified bodies read them as separate evidence streams.
•Reusing MDR clinical evaluation templates. IVDR Annex XIII structure is distinct.

Sources

Regulation (EU) 2017/746, Article 56 and Annex XIII · EUR-Lex
MDCG 2022-2 Performance Evaluation Guidance · MDCG
RAPS Regulatory Focus · RAPS

Open full page

Select term B to compare.

Why compare MedTech terms side by side?

MedTech terminology is full of pairs that look interchangeable but carry very different regulatory, clinical, and commercial consequences. Picking the wrong framework, pathway, or standard early in a project can add months to a submission, invalidate clinical evidence, or trigger an audit finding. Side-by-side comparison is the fastest way to surface those differences before they become costly mistakes.

Each comparison on this page pulls from the same vendor-neutral, sourced definitions used throughout the MedTech Terms glossary. You see the one-line summary, the formal definition, why it matters in practice, common pitfalls, and the primary sources (FDA guidance, EU MDR/IVDR articles, ISO/IEC standards, MDCG documents, IMDRF principles) that back each entry. That makes the comparison defensible in regulatory strategy memos, design reviews, and submission narratives.

Common comparison patterns

Regulatory pathway choice - 510(k) vs PMA, 510(k) vs De Novo, Abbreviated vs Special 510(k).
Quality systems - QSR vs ISO 13485, QMSR vs QSR.
Software classification - SaMD vs SiMD, Locked vs adaptive AI.
EU frameworks - MDR vs IVDR, CE Mark vs UKCA.
Cybersecurity artifacts - SPDX vs CycloneDX SBOM, CVE vs CVSS.
Post-market actions - Recall vs field action, Removal vs correction.

How to use this tool

Pick term A and term B from the dropdowns, or click a preset above. The URL updates with both slugs so you can bookmark or share the exact comparison with a colleague, a notified body reviewer, or your regulatory consultant. Click Open full page on either side for the complete entry, including FAQs, related terms, and the full citation list. If you are not sure which term to start with, browse the Categories view or the A-Z index.

MedTech Terms is a vendor-neutral community resource sponsored by Blue Goat Cyber. Definitions are written for educational use and are not legal or regulatory advice.