---
title: "In-House IVDs (Article 5(5)), Definition | MedTech Terms"
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# In-House IVDs (Article 5(5))

Devices manufactured and used within a single EU health institution under conditions in IVDR Article 5(5).

Reviewed by [Christian Espinosa, Founder, Blue Goat Cyber](/authors/christian-espinosa) Last reviewed July 25, 2026 

## Definition

Article 5(5) exempts devices manufactured and used exclusively within health institutions established in the Union from most  [IVDR](/terms/ivdr) requirements, provided conditions are met: an appropriate quality management system, justification that patient needs cannot be met by an equivalent CE-marked device, documentation on manufacturing and performance, and public declaration and reporting to the competent authority. 

## What this means in practice

In-house diagnostics (also known as laboratory-developed tests or LDTs in EU practice) are a major route for niche and rapidly evolving assays. Transition provisions extended key Article 5(5) documentation deadlines to 2028 and 2030 for high-risk classes, but the basic conditions apply now. 

Common pitfalls

-   • Assuming the exemption covers cross-institution networks. It applies to a single health institution. 
-   • Overlooking the requirement to justify that no equivalent CE-marked device meets the need. 

## Related terms

Grouped by theme 

### Editor's picks

· Hand-selected related concepts 

[

Regulatory

EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation(IVDR) 

Regulation (EU) 2017/746 governing in vitro diagnostic medical devices in the EU.





](/terms/ivdr)

### More in Regulatory

· Same category 

[

Regulatory

510(k) Premarket Notification(510(k)) 

FDA submission demonstrating a device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate.





](/terms/510k)[

Regulatory

510(k) Summary vs 510(k) Statement

Two alternative disclosure mechanisms in a 510(k) submission, a Summary is public on FDA's website; a Statement promises to share Safety & Effectiveness info on request.





](/terms/510k-summary-vs-statement)[

Regulatory

513(g) Request for Information(513(g)) 

Formal mechanism to ask FDA whether a product is a device and, if so, its likely classification.





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Abbreviated 510(k)

510(k) variant that relies on FDA guidance, special controls, or recognized consensus standards.





](/terms/abbreviated-510k)

Cited by

Where this term appears across MedTech Terms.

Ecosystems (2)

-   [Regulated Pathways](/ecosystems/regulated-pathways)
-   [Global Markets](/ecosystems/global-markets)

## Primary references

3 sources 

Link health:  2 verified  1 unchecked · last checked 2026-06-20 

EUR-Lex· 1 MDCG· 1 IMDRF· 1 

1.  [1 
    
    Regulation (EU) 2017/746, Article 5(5)
    
    Verified 
    
    EUR-Lex eur-lex.europa.eu 
    
    
    
    ](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/746/oj)
2.  [2 
    
    MDCG 2023-1 Article 5(5) Guidance
    
    Unchecked 
    
    MDCG health.ec.europa.eu 
    
    
    
    ](https://health.ec.europa.eu/latest-updates/mdcg-2023-1-guidance-health-institution-exemption-under-article-55-ivdr-2023-01-19_en)
3.  [3 
    
    IMDRF Documents
    
    Verified 
    
    IMDRF imdrf.org 
    
    
    
    ](https://www.imdrf.org/documents)

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

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On this term

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Updated

7/25/2026

[Compare with another term](/compare?a=ivdr-in-house-devices)

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Card Lesson Quiz

Devices manufactured and used within a single EU health institution under conditions in IVDR Article 5(5).

-   · In-house diagnostics (also known as laboratory-developed tests or LDTs in EU practice) are a major route for niche and rapidly evolving assays. 
-   · Transition provisions extended key Article 5(5) documentation deadlines to 2028 and 2030 for high-risk classes, but the basic conditions apply now. 

Remember this

Watch out: Assuming the exemption covers cross-institution networks. It applies to a single health institution.

Related terms

-   [EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation(IVDR) ](/terms/ivdr)

You may also need

Auto-suggested from Regulatory and shared keywords.

-   [CE Mark ](/terms/ce-mark)
-   [Common Specifications (IVDR)(CS) ](/terms/ivdr-common-specifications)
-   [Emergency Use Authorization(EUA) ](/terms/eua)
-   [IVDR Transitional Provisions ](/terms/ivdr-transitional-provisions)
-   [Performance Study Application (IVDR) ](/terms/ivdr-performance-study-application)
-   [Post-Market Surveillance Plan (IVDR) ](/terms/ivdr-pms-plan)

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