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Post-Market [Post-Market & Safety](/ecosystems/post-market-safety)[Global Markets](/ecosystems/global-markets)GUDID 

# Global Unique Device Identification Database

FDA database holding key device identification information for all UDIs.

Reviewed by [Christian Espinosa, Founder, Blue Goat Cyber](/authors/christian-espinosa) Last reviewed May 5, 2026 

## Definition

GUDID is the U.S. publicly accessible database that contains the device identifier portion of UDIs along with attributes like brand name, version/model,  [sterilization](/terms/sterilization), MR safety, and more. 

What the regulation says

The FDA established GUDID as part of the  [UDI](/terms/udi) system under 21 CFR Part 830. This regulation mandates that medical device labelers submit specific device identification information to the GUDID. The primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive public database of medical devices distributed in the United States, facilitating their identification and traceability. 

## What this means in practice

Labelers submit GUDID records via FDA's portal or HL7 SPL. Data quality directly affects EHR ingestion, recall lookups, and supply chain integrity. 

## Examples

-   A hospital uses the GUDID to confirm the manufacturer and model number of an implanted device during a patient follow-up appointment.
-   The FDA accesses GUDID during a recall event to quickly identify all affected devices and their key characteristics, streamlining communication to healthcare providers.
-   A supply chain manager integrates GUDID data into their inventory system to verify incoming medical devices against the official FDA database, improving inventory accuracy.

Common pitfalls

-   • Failing to accurately link UDI-DI to correct device attributes can lead to submission rejection and compliance issues. 
-   • Incorrectly submitting data, especially regarding device characteristics, can impair the utility of GUDID for post-market surveillance. 
-   • Not understanding the distinction between device identifier (DI) and production identifier (PI) can result in improper data entry. 
-   • Ignoring the ongoing maintenance requirements for GUDID records can lead to outdated information and non-compliance. 
-   • Assuming GUDID is a global database and not recognizing it as specific to the US FDA’s regulatory framework often causes confusion. 

## Frequently asked questions

What kind of information is stored in GUDID? 

GUDID stores the device identifier (DI) part of the  [UDI](/terms/udi), along with key static attributes such as the brand name, device description, version or model number,  [sterilization](/terms/sterilization) information, and MRI safety status. It does not contain production identifiers (PIs), which include lot or serial numbers. 

Who is responsible for submitting data to GUDID? 

How does GUDID support post-market activities? 

## Cross-references

### Uses

Concepts or artefacts this term builds on.

-   [
    
    Unique Device Identification(UDI) 
    
    
    
    ](/terms/udi)

## Related terms

Grouped by theme 

### Editor's picks

· Hand-selected related concepts 

[

Manufacturing

UDI-DI vs. UDI-PI

Static device identifier (DI) vs. dynamic production identifier (PI) within a UDI.





](/terms/udi-di-pi)[

Regulatory

Unique Device Identification(UDI) 

System for adequate identification of medical devices through distribution and use.





](/terms/udi)

### More in Post-Market

· Same category 

[

Post-Market

5-Day Report

Expedited FDA MDR for events requiring remedial action to prevent unreasonable risk of substantial harm.





](/terms/five-day-report)[

Post-Market

Annual Report (PMA)

Yearly report required for Class III PMA devices summarizing changes, complaints, and post-approval study status.





](/terms/annual-report-pma)[

Post-Market

Customer Notification Letter

Communication to users notifying them of a safety issue, corrective action, or important product information.





](/terms/customer-notification)[

Post-Market

Electronic Medical Device Reporting(eMDR) 

FDA's mandatory electronic submission system for Medical Device Reports.





](/terms/emdr)

Cited by

Where this term appears across MedTech Terms.

Ecosystems (2)

-   [Post-Market & Safety](/ecosystems/post-market-safety)
-   [Global Markets](/ecosystems/global-markets)

## Primary references

3 sources 

Link health:  3 verified · last checked 2026-06-20 

FDA· 2 European Commission· 1 

1.  [1 
    
    GUDID
    
    Verified 
    
    FDA · fda.gov 
    
    
    
    ](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/unique-device-identification-system-udi-system/global-unique-device-identification-database-gudid)
2.  [2 
    
    FDA Recalls - Medical Devices
    
    Verified 
    
    FDA · fda.gov 
    
    
    
    ](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-safety/medical-device-recalls)
3.  [3 
    
    EUDAMED Public Site
    
    Verified 
    
    European Commission · ec.europa.eu 
    
    
    
    ](https://ec.europa.eu/tools/eudamed/)

Inline markers like \[1\]  jump to the matching reference above.

Sponsor note

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MedTech Terms is a community resource sponsored by [Blue Goat Cyber](https://bluegoatcyber.com). Definitions are independent of any vendor.

On this term

Category

Post-Market

Acronym

GUDID

Sources

3

Updated

5/5/2026

[Compare with another term](/compare?a=gudid)

Learn in 60 seconds

Card Lesson Quiz

FDA database holding key device identification information for all UDIs.

-   · Labelers submit GUDID records via FDA's portal or HL7 SPL. 
-   · Data quality directly affects EHR ingestion, recall lookups, and supply chain integrity. 
-   · publicly accessible database that contains the device identifier portion of UDIs along with attributes like brand name, version/model, sterilization, MR safety, and more. 

Remember this

Watch out: Failing to accurately link UDI-DI to correct device attributes can lead to submission rejection and compliance issues.

Related terms

-   [Unique Device Identification(UDI) ](/terms/udi)
-   [UDI-DI vs. UDI-PI ](/terms/udi-di-pi)

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