Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Safety and Performance Based 
Pathway 
Guidance for Industry and 
Food and Drug Administration 
Document issued on September 20, 2019. 
Document originally issued on February 1, 2019. 
The draft of this document, entitled Expansion of the Abbreviated 510(k) 
Program: Demonstrating Substantial Equivalence through Performance 
Criteria issued on April 12, 2018. 
For questions about this document regarding CDRH-regulated devices, contact the ORP: Office 
of Regulatory Programs, DRP1: Division of Submission Support, Premarket Notification and 
Classification Team by email at 510K_Program@fda.hhs.gov or at 301-796-5640. For questions 
about this document regarding CBER-regulated devices, contact the Office of Communication, 
Outreach, and Development (OCOD) by email at ocod@fda.hhs.gov or at 1-800-835-4709 or 
240-402-8010. 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Food and Drug Administration 
Center for Devices and Radiological Health 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 
1  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Preface 
Public Comment 
You may submit electronic comments and suggestions at any time for Agency consideration to 
https://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Staff, Food 
and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, (HFA-305), Rockville, MD 20852. 
Identify all comments with the docket number FDA-2018-D-1387. Comments may not be acted 
upon by the Agency until the document is next revised or updated. 
Additional Copies 
CDRH 
Additional copies are available from the Internet. You may also send an e-mail request to CDRH-
Guidance@fda.hhs.gov to receive a copy of the guidance. Please include the document number 
17046 and complete title of the guidance in the request. 
CBER 
Additional copies are available from the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), 
Office of Communication, Outreach, and Development (OCOD), 10903 New Hampshire Ave., 
Bldg. 71, Room 3128, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, or by calling 1-800-835-4709 or 240-402-
8010, by email, ocod@fda.hhs.gov or from the Internet at https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-
biologics/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information-biologics/biologics-guidances. 
2 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Table of Contents 
I.  Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 
II.  Background ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 
III.  Policy ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 
A.  Devices Appropriate for the Safety and Performance Based Pathway: Intended use and technological 
characteristics ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 
B.  Identification of performance criteria ............................................................................................................... 8 
C.  FDA review of data .......................................................................................................................................... 8 
D.  Modifications to the list .................................................................................................................................. 10 
Appendix. Submission Recommendations for a 510(k) in the Safety and Performance Based Pathway .......... 12 
3 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Safety and Performance Based 
Pathway 
Guidance for Industry and 
Food and Drug Administration Staff 
This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or 
Agency) on this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on 
FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the 
applicable statutes and regulations. To discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff 
or Office responsible for this guidance as listed on the title page. 
I.  Introduction 
This guidance provides FDAs current thinking on expanding the concept of the Abbreviated 
510(k) Program for demonstrating substantial equivalence for premarket notification (510(k)) 
submissions. The intent of the guidance is to describe an optional pathway  the Safety and 
Performance Based Pathway  for certain, well understood device types, where a submitter 
would demonstrate that a new device meets FDA-identified performance criteria to demonstrate 
that the device is as safe and effective as a legally marketed device. 
FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable 
responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agencys current thinking on a topic and should 
be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are 
cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidance means that something is suggested or 
recommended, but not required. 
II.  Background 
For the purposes of determining substantial equivalence, section 513(i)(1)(A) of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) provides that: 
[W]ith respect to a device being compared to a predicate device, that device has the same 
intended use as the predicate device and that the Secretary by order has found that the 
device  
(i) has the same technological characteristics as the predicate device, or 
(ii)  
4 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
(I) has different technological characteristics and the information submitted that 
the device is substantially equivalent to the predicate device contains information, 
including appropriate clinical or scientific data if deemed necessary by the 
Secretary or a person accredited under section 523, that demonstrates that the 
device is as safe and effective as a legally marketed device, and 
(II) does not raise different questions of safety and effectiveness than the 
predicate device. 
Through guidance, FDA has explained and clarified how it makes substantial equivalence 
decisions.1 As described in that guidance, the 510(k) program has undergone a number of 
statutory changes since its inception and FDA has adapted its implementation of the program in 
response to changing statutory requirements and the evolving medical device landscape. For 
example, FDA established alternative programs for demonstrating substantial equivalence: The 
Special 510(k) and the Abbreviated 510(k). The Abbreviated 510(k) submission program relies 
on the use of guidance documents, special controls, and FDA-recognized consensus standards to 
facilitate 510(k) review.2 The current 510(k) program reflects the current statutory framework 
and FDAs implementation of that framework through regulation, guidance, and administrative 
practice. 
Congress has also amended the FD&C Act to add what are known as the least burdensome 
provisions for medical devices,3 some of which are specific to the 510(k) process.4 Their general 
purpose is to ensure FDA requests the minimum information necessary to adequately address a 
regulatory question or issue through the most efficient manner at the right time.5
This guidance focuses on the decision point of the substantial equivalence analysis that requires a 
510(k) submitter to demonstrate that, despite technological differences, its device is as safe and 
effective as a legally marketed device. FDA recognizes that, in some cases, demonstrating this 
through direct comparison testing may create greater burdens for 510(k) submitters than applying 
an alternative approach, such as the approach described in this guidance, if appropriate. For 
example, in some cases, it may be more burdensome for a submitter to conduct testing against an 
appropriate predicate device to demonstrate equivalence for the necessary set of performance and 
technological characteristics than to demonstrate their device meets appropriate performance 
criteria established by FDA.  Therefore, consistent with FDAs mandate in section 513(i)(1)(D) 
                                                           
1 See The 510(k) Program: Evaluating Substantial Equivalence in Premarket Notifications [510(k)], Guidance for 
Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff, available at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-
fda-guidance-documents/510k-program-evaluating-substantial-equivalence-premarket-notifications-510k. 
2 See The Abbreviated 510(k) Program final guidance, available at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-
information/search-fda-guidance-documents/abbreviated-510k-program. 
3 See sections 513(i)(1)(D)(i)  (iii), 513(a)(3)(D)(iii)  (iv), and 515(c)(5)(A)  (D) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 
360c and 360e), established by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA) (P. L. 
105-115). 
4 See section 513(i)(1)(D)(i)  (iii) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 360c and 360e), established by FDAMA (P. L. 
105-115) and amended by Congress through the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (Public 
Law 112-144) (FDASIA) and the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255) (Cures Act). 
5 See FDA guidance Least Burdensome Concept and Principles, which describes the guiding principles and 
recommended approach for FDA staff and industry when applying least burdensome principles. Available at 
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/least-burdensome-provisions-concept-
and-principles. 
5 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
of the FD&C Act to consider the least burdensome means of demonstrating substantial 
equivalence, this guidance expands the concept of the Abbreviated 510(k) Program by 
explaining how substantial equivalence for certain device types may be demonstrated in a way 
that is less burdensome, but at least as robust. Use of this expanded program may also make the 
review of 510(k) submissions more efficient, thereby reducing burdens on the Agency and 
possibly review times for individual submissions. At the same time, this approach satisfies the 
statutory standard for demonstrating substantial equivalence. 
III.  Policy 
Under section 513(i)(1)(A) of the FD&C Act, substantial equivalence is rooted in comparisons 
between new devices and predicate devices. However, the FD&C Act does not preclude FDA 
from using performance criteria to facilitate this comparison. If a legally marketed device 
performs at certain levels relevant to its safety and effectiveness, and a new device meets those 
levels of performance for the same characteristics, FDA could find that the new device is as safe 
and effective as the legally marketed device. Instead of reviewing data from direct comparison 
testing between the two devices, FDA could support a finding of substantial equivalence based 
on data showing the new device meets the level of performance of appropriate predicate 
device(s). Under the approach expanded in this guidance, a submitter could satisfy the 
requirement to compare its device with a legally marketed device6 by, among other things, 
demonstrating that the devices performance meets established performance criteria. 
Performance expectations may be described in FDA guidance, FDA-recognized consensus 
standards,7 and/or special controls.8 In some cases, these performance criteria may be explicitly 
defined, while in others, the acceptable outcomes may be described qualitatively, such as for 
biocompatibility. Device types that are eligible for third party review in addition to being 
appropriate for the Safety and Performance Based Pathway (see Section III.A) would remain 
eligible for the 510(k) Third Party Review Program.9
In order to identify the specific set of performance criteria appropriate to satisfy a submitters 
comparison to an appropriate predicate for a given device-type, FDA would ensure that those 
performance criteria represent performance that meets the performance of one or more existing, 
legally marketed devices of that device type. Thus, by demonstrating that a new device meets the 
identified performance criteria, a submitter could demonstrate that the new device is at least as 
safe and effective, as a legally marketed device, in accordance with sections 513(i)(1)(A)(ii)(I) 
                                                           
6 See 21 CFR 807.87(f). 
7 A submitter may base a Declaration of Conformity on testing and analysis performed in-house or on testing 
performed by a third party, such as a testing laboratory or certification body. See FDA Guidance Appropriate Use 
of Voluntary Consensus Standards in Premarket Submissions for Medical Devices, available at 
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/appropriate-use-voluntary-consensus-
standards-premarket-submissions-medical-devices. 
8 A device must comply with any applicable special controls regardless of which 510(k) pathway is used (see section 
513(a)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act), but there may be instances where conformance to special controls, FDA-recognized 
standards, and/or FDA-established criteria would also be sufficient to demonstrate a device is as safe and effective 
as a legally marketed device. 
9 The 510(k) Third Party Review Program is described at the following Web Site: https://www.fda.gov/medical-
devices/premarket-submissions/510k-third-party-review-program. The list of devices eligible for Third Party 
Review is available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfThirdParty/current.cfm#4. 
6 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
and 513(i)(1)(D) of the FD&C Act. Note that direct comparison of a new device with a legally 
marketed device would remain available under a Traditional or Special 510(k) pathway, as 
appropriate, including for those devices also eligible for the 510(k) Third Party Review Program. 
The policy in this guidance is an expansion of the approach FDA has long applied through the 
Abbreviated 510(k) Program. When submitting an Abbreviated 510(k), a submitter uses 
conformity to FDA-recognized consensus standards, FDA guidance, and/or special controls to 
demonstrate some of the performance characteristics necessary to support a finding of substantial 
equivalence. In the optional program described here, the Safety and Performance Based 
Pathway, a submitter would use robust versions of those same mechanisms, which contain all the 
performance characteristics necessary to support a finding of substantial equivalence for a device 
type, rather than using direct predicate comparison testing to support a finding of substantial 
equivalence for some of the performance characteristics. 
FDA believes that use of performance criteria is only appropriate when FDA has determined that 
(1) the new device has indications for use and technological characteristics that do not raise 
different questions of safety and effectiveness than the identified predicate, (2) the performance 
criteria align with the performance of one or more legally marketed devices of the same type as 
the new device, and (3) the new device meets all the performance criteria. Although FDA may 
recommend test methodology for the performance criteria, a submitter may choose to use an 
appropriate testing methodology other than what is specified or recommended to demonstrate the 
performance characteristics. (See Section III.C for discussion on FDA review of protocols and 
underlying data in such circumstances.) All performance criteria for use of the Safety and 
Performance Based Pathway will be publicized through FDA guidance developed for purposes 
of this program, which may reference FDA-recognized consensus standards, FDA guidance, and 
special controls. If a device cannot rely entirely on performance criteria identified by FDA to 
demonstrate substantial equivalence for its submission, it is not appropriate for this program; 
however, we emphasize that the previously established 510(k) programs in which direct 
performance comparisons against appropriate predicates are conducted, including Traditional, 
Special, and Abbreviated 510(k)s, remain available to submitters. 
A.  Devices Appropriate for the Safety and Performance 
Based Pathway: Intended use and technological characteristics 
FDA plans to provide information about the types of devices to which the performance criteria 
would apply in the guidance establishing the performance criteria. Such information may include 
the relevant product code(s), appropriate intended uses, and appropriate indications for use. FDA 
also intends to maintain a list of device types appropriate for the Safety and Performance Based 
Pathway on the FDA website (see Section III.B. for additional information). In addition, in 
individual submissions for the Safety and Performance Based Pathway, FDA will continue to 
require the identification of predicate device(s) for the intended use and technological 
characteristics decision points of the substantial equivalence analysis. Clarifying the set of 
devices for which the performance criteria are appropriate in guidance and having submitters 
identify a predicate of the same device type will help ensure that a new device that utilizes this 
program has (1) the same intended use as and (2) technological characteristics that do not raise 
different questions of safety and effectiveness from the predicate device. 
7 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
If you have questions about whether your new device is within a type identified by FDA as 
appropriate for the Safety and Performance Based Pathway, specifically (1) whether your new 
device is within the scope of devices to which the FDA-identified performance criteria are 
intended to apply or (2) whether its indications for use or technological characteristics raise 
different questions of safety and effectiveness than a predicate device, we recommend that you 
seek feedback from the appropriate Office or Division on the appropriateness of using the 
performance criteria. FDA believes that it will typically be able to make these determinations 
without reviewing data, as long as the device clearly falls within the types FDA has identified as 
appropriate for utilizing this program. However, where FDA determines that additional data are 
necessary to make these determinations, the Agency may, on a case-by-case basis, review that 
data before determining whether or not the device is appropriate for this Safety and Performance 
Based Pathway. 
B.  Identification of performance criteria 
FDA intends to maintain a list of device types appropriate for the Safety and Performance Based 
Pathway on the FDA website for the Safety and Performance Based Pathway,10 accompanied by 
the guidance documents that identify the performance criteria for each device type, as well as the 
testing methods recommended in the guidances where feasible, and any other relevant 
information. These guidance documents may reference consensus standards, or portions of 
consensus standards, recognized by FDA under section 514 of the FD&C Act, as well as special 
controls established for that device type and relevant FDA guidance. Performance criteria in 
FDA-recognized consensus standards that have not been identified in FDA guidance for use in 
the Safety and Performance Based Pathway should not be used in this program. When selecting 
from established performance criteria and test methodology in standards or guidance and when 
establishing new performance criteria and test methodology through guidance, FDA intends to 
rely on the experience and expertise of FDA staff, information in literature, and analyses of data 
available to FDA on existing devices within a device type to determine the performance criteria 
and associated testing methods that could support a finding of substantial equivalence for a given 
device type. FDA will ensure that these criteria represent performance levels that are at least 
equivalent to the performance of legally marketed devices of the type to which they apply. 
However, because it is FDAs responsibility to determine whether a new device reviewed under 
the 510(k) program is substantially equivalent, the final determination will be FDAs. We 
reemphasize that the previously established 510(k) programs in which direct performance 
comparisons against predicates are conducted, including Traditional, Special, and Abbreviated 
510(k)s, remain available to submitters, as appropriate. 
C.  FDA review of data 
The amount and type of information necessary to support a finding of substantial equivalence 
under the Safety and Performance Based Pathway are summarized in Table 1. To support an 
FDA finding of substantial equivalence through this program, FDA expects a submitter to 
demonstrate that the new device meets the FDA-identified performance criteria by submitting a 
                                                           
10 Available at https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/premarket-notification-510k/framework-safety-and-
performance-based-pathway 
8 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Declaration of Conformity to an FDA-recognized consensus standard,11 testing protocols, a 
results summary, and/or underlying data (i.e., complete test report), as appropriate. When the 
performance criteria and testing methodologies are in an FDA-recognized standard (identified in 
the relevant FDA guidance) and the submitter uses the specified methods to establish that its new 
device meets the performance criteria, a Declaration of Conformity should be sufficient to 
support a finding of substantial equivalence, unless noted otherwise in the relevant Safety and 
Performance Based Pathway guidance. When FDA establishes performance criteria and 
recommends or specifies the use of testing methodologies from an FDA-recognized standard, 
submitters using the recommended or specified testing methodologies should provide a results 
summary demonstrating that the FDA-identified performance criteria have been met in addition 
to a Declaration of Conformity. When FDA establishes performance criteria and recommends or 
specifies testing methodologies that are not in existing FDA-recognized consensus standards, and 
the submitter uses such methods, the submitter should also submit a testing protocol describing 
the test methodology and a results summary demonstrating that the FDA-identified performance 
criteria have been met. When no testing methodology is specified or recommended, or when a 
submitter chooses to use a testing methodology other than the methodology specified or 
recommended, submitters should submit a complete test report to FDA. 
Consistent with FDA policy for all 510(k) submissions, for all 510(k) submissions under the 
Safety and Performance Based Pathway, FDA may request and review underlying data 
demonstrating that a new device meets the FDA-identified performance criteria and testing 
methodology, as necessary. 
If data provided by the submitter do not show that the new device meets the performance criteria 
FDA has identified for the device type, FDA would not be able to find that the new device is 
substantially equivalent through this program. As previously mentioned, submitters could still 
use other available 510(k) programs to demonstrate substantial equivalence. 
                                                           
11 See section 514(c)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act and FDA Guidance FDA Guidance Appropriate Use of Voluntary 
Consensus Standards in Premarket Submissions for Medical Devices (https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-
information/search-fda-guidance-documents/appropriate-use-voluntary-consensus-standards-premarket-
submissions-medical-devices) 
9 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Table 1. FDA Review of Information Provided to Demonstrate that a Device Meets 
Performance Criteria and Methodology Indicated in FDA Guidance for Submissions using 
the Safety and Performance Based Pathway 
Type of Performance Criteria and  Safety and Performance Based 
Methodology FDA identified in the relevant  Pathway 510(k) Submission should 
Safety and Performance Based Pathway  Include 
Guidance 
Performance  Testing Methodology 
Criteria 
FDA-recognized  FDA-recognized  Declaration of Conformity13
standard12 standard12 
FDA-established  FDA-recognized  Results Summary14 and Declaration of 
standard12  Conformity13 
FDA-established  FDA-recommended or  Results Summary14 and Testing 
specified  Protocol15
FDA-established  None  Complete Test Report16
specified/recommended 
or alternative to FDA-
specified methodology 
used 
D.  Modifications to the list 
As discussed above, FDA intends to maintain a list of device types appropriate for the Safety and 
Performance Based Pathway on the FDA website, accompanied by the guidances that identify 
the performance criteria and testing methods recommended for each device type, and any other 
relevant information. FDA intends to revise the list of appropriate device types on our website 
with additional device types and may revise the corresponding performance criteria and testing 
methodology in guidance over time as appropriate and in accordance with FDAs Good 
Guidance Practices (21 CFR 10.115). FDA intends to periodically review the applicable criteria 
and guidances in order to ensure they remain appropriate to the device type. FDA may modify or 
                                                           
12 This refers to FDA-recognized consensus standards indicated in the relevant Safety and Performance Based 
Pathway guidance for use for a particular device type. As stated in section III.B., performance criteria in FDA-
recognized consensus standards that have not been identified in FDA guidance for use in the Safety and 
Performance Based Pathway should not be used in this program. 
13 See Table 1 in FDA Guidance Appropriate Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards in Premarket Submissions for 
Medical Devices (https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/appropriate-use-
voluntary-consensus-standards-premarket-submissions-medical-devices) for details on FDA Review of Declarations 
of Conformity and Supplemental Documentation. 
14 See description of results summary in Section II.A.5 of FDA guidance Recommended Content and Format of 
Non-Clinical Bench Performance Testing Information in Premarket Submissions (https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-
information/search-fda-guidance-documents/recommended-content-and-format-non-clinical-bench-performance-
testing-information-premarket). 
15 See description of test protocol in Section II.C of FDA guidance Recommended Content and Format of Non-
Clinical Bench Performance Testing Information in Premarket Submissions. 
16 See description of complete test report in Section II.B of FDA guidance Recommended Content and Format of 
Non-Clinical Bench Performance Testing Information in Premarket Submissions. 
10 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
remove an entry from the list, particularly where new information indicates that the performance 
criteria in the identified guidance do not fully support a substantial equivalence determination. In 
such a case, we intend to either remove that device type from the list or note on the list that 
additional testing may be necessary while the underlying source(s) of the performance criteria 
are updated. Changes to the list, i.e., when a device type is removed from the list or an updated 
final guidance is issued, would apply prospectively to devices for which a 510(k) has not yet 
been submitted. The clearance for devices that have been cleared via the Safety and Performance 
Based Pathway prior to the removal of a device type from the list of appropriate device types 
would not be affected by the change to the list. Such devices may be subject to other action, as 
appropriate, to address the reason for the modification or removal from the list, for example, if 
there was a safety concern. 
11 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
Appendix. Submission Recommendations for a 510(k) in the 
Safety and Performance Based Pathway 
Safety and Performance Based 510(k)s must comply with the content requirements for premarket 
notifications submitted in support of substantial equivalence decisions at 21 CFR 807.87. This 
appendix provides recommendations on how to apply the recommendations in the general 510(k) 
Format Guidance to the format and content of a Safety and Performance Based 510(k) that uses 
the approach described in this guidance. These recommendations are also intended to ensure that 
the elements recommended in FDAs guidance Refuse to Accept Policy for 510(k)s (RTA 
Policy Guidance)17 are appropriately included in your submission. 
Consistent with the RTA Policy Guidance, we recommend that you include the section headings 
listed, preferably in the sequence outlined below, when submitting a Safety and Performance 
Based 510(k) in accordance with this guidance. In some instances, the information in a particular 
section may not apply to your device. To assist review staff, we recommend you retain the 
section headings in the sequence listed. If you believe a section does not apply, we recommend 
you include the section and state This section does not apply or N/A under that heading with 
a rationale for why the section does not apply. For example, if your device does not contain any 
software, we recommend you state, This section is not applicable because the subject device 
does not contain software in Section 16 titled Software. 
1.  Medical Device User Fee Cover Sheet (Form FDA 3601) 
2.  CDRH Premarket Review Submission Cover Sheet (Form FDA 3514) 
3.  510(k) Cover Letter 
4.  Indications for Use Statement (Form FDA 3881) 
5.  510(k) Summary or 510(k) Statement 
6.  Truthful and Accuracy Statement 
7.  Class III Summary and Certification 
8.  Financial Certification and/or Disclosure Statement (Forms FDA 3454 and FDA 3455) 
9.  Declarations of Conformity and Summary Reports 
10. Device Description 
11. Executive Summary/Predicate Comparison 
12. Substantial Equivalence Discussion 
13. Proposed Labeling 
14. Sterilization and Shelf Life 
15. Biocompatibility 
16. Software 
17. Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety 
18. Performance Testing  Bench 
19. Performance Testing  Animal 
20. Performance Testing  Clinical 
21. Other 
                                                           
17 https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/refuse-accept-policy-510ks 
12 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
The RTA Policy Guidance provides recommendations for each of these sections. In addition, we 
recommend the following for sections 9, 12, and 13-20: 
9. Declarations of Conformity and Summary Reports 
To demonstrate your device meets the relevant performance criteria, you should include, 
depending on the circumstances described in Section III.C.: 
  A declaration of conformity to the standard;18
  results summary or a summary report if recommended in any relevant device-specific 
guidance; 
  testing protocols; and/or 
  complete test report demonstrating that the new device meets the FDA-identified 
performance criteria. 
Which of these approaches is appropriate will depend on the underlying source for the 
performance criteria and testing methods, including whether they are contained in an FDA-
recognized standard identified in the relevant Safety and Performance Based Pathway guidance 
or established or recommended/specified by FDA in such guidance (See Table 1). 
12. Substantial Equivalence Discussion 
In the substantial equivalence section, we continue to recommend that you identify the predicate 
by providing its trade name, model number, name of the 510(k) submitter/holder, and 510(k) 
number, if available. 
We recommend that you provide a comparison between your device and the predicate in terms of 
indications for use and technology. 
If you choose to use the Safety and Performance Based Pathway, we do not expect you to 
provide direct comparison testing against a legally marketed device for performance 
specifications. Any testing you conduct in accordance with standards or guidance should be as 
described in sections 9, 12, and 13-20, as applicable. 
13 - 20. Proposed Labeling, Sterilization and Shelf Life, Biocompatibility, Software, 
Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety, and Performance Testing  Bench, 
Animal, and Clinical, as applicable 
We continue to recommend that submitters of 510(k)s through the Safety and Performance 
Based Pathway provide the information as you would in a traditional 510(k) for the sections on 
Proposed Labeling, Sterilization and Shelf Life, Biocompatibility, Software, Electromagnetic 
Compatibility and Electrical Safety, and Performance Testing, except that FDA would not expect 
your information to describe direct comparison testing against the predicate device. Instead, FDA 
                                                           
18 See FDA Guidance Appropriate Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards in Premarket Submissions for Medical 
Devices (https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/appropriate-use-voluntary-
consensus-standards-premarket-submissions-medical-devices). 
13 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
recommends that you include a Declaration of Conformity, results summary, testing protocols 
and/or complete test report, as applicable, demonstrating the new device meets the performance 
criteria using appropriate testing methods. 
14