WARNING LETTER
Physitemp Instruments, LLC
MARCS-CMS 717394 —
November 12, 2025
Delivery Method:
VIA Electronic Mail
Product:
Medical Devices
Recipient:
Recipient Name
Michele J. Cantwell
Recipient Title
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Physitemp Instruments, LLC
189 Sargeant Avenue
Clifton
,
NJ
07013
United States
(b)(4)
Issuing Office:
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
United States
WARNING LETTER
CMS # 717394
November 12, 2025
Dear Ms. Cantwell:
During an inspection of your firm located in Clifton, NJ from April 29, 2025 through June 18, 2025, an investigator (or investigators) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures Clinical Electronic Thermometers (TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP), Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2), and a Needle Microprobe (MT-D). These products are intended to measure human body temperature in clinical settings, for example, profiling tumor temperature during cancer hyperthermia and measuring myocardial temperature during bypass surgery. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), these products are devices because they are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or to affect the structure or any function of the body.
Quality System Regulation Violation(s)
This inspection revealed that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 351(h), in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the current good manufacturing practice requirements of the Quality System regulation found at Title 21,
Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Part 820.
We received a response from Yirelisa Alcantara, Quality Assurance Regulatory Coordinator, dated
(b)(4)
, concerning our investigator’s observations noted on the Form FDA 483 (FDA 483), List of Inspectional Observations, that was issued to your firm. We address this response below, in relation to each of the noted violations. These violations include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Failure to adequately ensure that when the results of a process cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspection and test, the process shall be validated with a high degree of assurance and approved according to established procedures, as required by 21 CFR 820.75(a).
Specifically, you failed to define and document procedures for process validation. For example, the following processes were not validated or adequately validated to ensure your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2) and Needle Microprobe (MT-D) meet pre-determined specifications for sterility and laser welding:
A.
(b)(4)
Sterilization
You have not conducted validations of the
(b)(4)
sterilization method documented in the respective sterilization guides you supply to customers for sterilization of your esophageal (ESO-1) and rectal (RET-1) Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes and Needle Microprobe (MT-D) to ensure they consistently produce product that meets pre-determined specifications for sterility.
Moreover, the
(b)(4)
Sterility Tests for “Mixed Skin Sensors” and “Skin Sensors” conducted between
(b)(4)
and
(b)(4)
are inadequate because you were unable to provide objective evidence that the study included the current versions of your clinical skin sensor Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (SST-1 and SST-2) as well as other information such as (but not limited to) load configurations and raw data.
B.
Laser Welding
Your installation qualifications titled “
(b)(4)
Installation Qualification” (Rev A; Effective: 4/29/24) and “
(b)(4)
Operation Qualification” (Rev A; Effective: 4/29/24) are incomplete because they failed to ensure that the
(b)(4)
(Model #:
(b)(4)
; SN #:
(b)(4)
), used to weld thermocouple wires of your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes and Needle Microprobe (MT-D), was installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s electrical requirements for input power voltage and grounding, as described in the “start preparing” section of the
(b)(4)
User Manual. Furthermore, you have not conducted a validation of your laser welding process to ensure it consistently produces product that meets pre-determined specifications for weldin
g.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. In response to the
(b)(4)
sterilization validation, you state that the formal
(b)(4)
validation for skin sensor probes was provided to the investigator during the inspection. However, these studies were found to be inadequate because you were unable to provide objective evidence that they included the current versions of your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (SST-1 and SST-2) as well as other information such as (but not limited to) load configurations and raw data. Overall, your response failed to include any corrective actions to conduct
(b)(4)
sterilization validations for your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes and Needle Microprobe (MT-D) which are intended for human use.
In response to the laser welding validation, you state that there was a mix-up in the documentation that was provided to the investigator and that the current in use laser welder is the
(b)(4)
, not the
(b)(4)
. However, this contradicts the effective dates of
(b)(4)
, for the “
(b)(4)
Installation Qualification” and “
(b)(4)
Operation Qualification” which were provided to the investigator during the inspection which point to the
(b)(4)
Welder as the equipment in current use. Under CAPA-25-003, you removed all legacy material for the
(b)(4)
. Your corrective actions are to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
, and
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. By
(b)(4)
, you plan to
(b)(4)
on
(b)(4)
. In addition, you plan to
(b)(4)
. However, there were no corrective actions identified to define and document an overarching procedure to conduct process validations, with a high degree of assurance, to ensure that your processes consistently produce products that meets pre-determined specifications at worst case and nominal operating parameters.
In your response, you also point out that the requirements of 21 CFR 820.75(a) with regards to
(b)(4)
sterilization validation for the Implantable Temperature Monitoring Probes (IT-14; IT-18 series; IT-21; IT-23; IT-IE) do not apply because these probes are primarily used in general laboratory research applications such as liquid vials, tissue culture, ex-vivo tissue samples, and subcutaneous use in living research animals and not human use. Under CAPA 25-007, you reviewed all labeling (e.g., instructions, promotional materials, etc.) for the Implantable Temperature Monitoring Probes and communicated the intended use to the sales and customer support teams. The corrective actions are to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
; update the
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
; and
(b)(4)
on the
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. However, you have not identified whether any actions should be taken that are commensurate with the risk of customers using the Implantable Temperature Monitoring Probes already in the field on humans due to ambiguous labeling and for which no
(b)(4)
, autoclaving,
(b)(4)
, hermetic sealing, or laser welding validations were conducted. During correspondence with a customer between
(b)(4)
, through
(b)(4)
, you received a complaint (# 9462) for a broken wire and battery box for the IT-18EXLONG (Batch #
(b)(4)
) Implantable Temperature Monitoring Probe with a request for replacement “***
quickly due to patients coming
***” which shows that these devices have been used in humans. Premarket authorization will be required if the intended use of these Implantable Temperature Monitoring Probes is expanded to human use.
Please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
2. Failure to establish and maintain procedures for finished device acceptance to ensure that each production run, lot, or batch of finished devices meets acceptance criteria, as required by 21 CFR 820.80(d).
Specifically, the finished device acceptance activities contained in the respective assembly procedures of your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2) are inadequate because they fail to establish requirements to verify that these devices meet the claimed
(b)(4)
°C tolerance specification stated in your marketing brochure. For example, the finished device acceptance activities documented in the “Assembly Instructions ***OT-1” (ECO 10390; Rev. 1; Effective: 4/11/14); “Assembly Instructions***ESO-1” (ECO 10371; Rev. 1; Effective: 6/5/13); “Assembly Instructions***RET-1” (ECO 10371; Rev 1; Effective: 2/18/11); “Assembly Instructions***SST-1” (Effective: 2/18/01); and “Assembly Instructions***SST-2” (Effective: 9/99) lack any tests to ensure these finished devices will remain within the
(b)(4)
℃ for the specified operating range of temperatures,
(b)(4)
℃ to
(b)(4)
℃, after manufacturing steps such as (but not limited to) welding. Furthermore, you stated that there is no finished device acceptance testing to verify the
(b)(4)
℃ tolerance for any of the finished Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes unless specifically requested by a customer.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. You explain that the
(b)(4)
°C tolerance specification is verified during incoming inspection of the thermocouple wires and after completion of the coating step during manufacturing. However, there was no evidence provided that subsequent manufacturing steps such as welding do not adversely change the previously verified tolerances. You further state that you plan to conduct a one-time validation study using a statistically significant sample size of
(b)(4)
for each type of Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probe to confirm that your manufacturing process consistently produces probes within the
(b)(4)
°C accuracy tolerance specification. However, no rationale was provided for how the sample size selection of
(b)(4)
clinical probes is statistically significant.
Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address this deficiency. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
3. Failure to adequately establish and maintain procedures to control product that does not conform to specified requirements, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(a).
Specifically, your nonconforming product procedure titled “Part 06: Device Investigation” (Rev 2; Effective: 5/17/10) is inadequate in that it fails to require:
A. Identification, documentation, evaluation, segregation, and disposition of nonconformances found during inspections of incoming raw materials, as the current procedure limits identification of nonconformances to
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
, and
(b)(4)
of Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2) and Needle Microprobe (MT-D). For example, your Design Engineer stated that they do not document nonconformances found during incoming inspections, including during the incoming inspection of thermocouple wires conducted per the “NIST Compliance Wire Test” procedure (SOP-EG-006; Rev B; Effective: 11/7/24).
B. Documentation of the evaluation of a nonconformance to determine the need for an investigation, as the procedure only states “***
(b)(4)
***
(b)(4)
***.” For example, you were unable to provide a documented evaluation on the need for an investigation for
(b)(4)
nonconformances recorded in the “Rejected Logbook” for your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes including (but not limited to) the SST-2 on 4/12/24 for “no reading” (Batch #
(b)(4)
); ESO-1 on 6/13/24 for “wire broke Red-blue” (Batch #
(b)(4)
); SST-1 on 8/15/24 for “no reading & duff mark on white area” (Batch #
(b)(4)
); RET-1 on 1/8/25 for “Tip too big” (Batch #
(b)(4)
); and OT-1 on 1/21/25 for “scratches” (Batch #
(b)(4)
). In addition, review of the “Circuit Board Assembly, Fault Record” dated 12/6/23 revealed that at least
(b)(4)
nonconformances for “cant [sic] set low batt”, “cant [sic] count up”, or “low battery stays on” found during the pretesting of printed circuit boards (PCBs) pertaining to TH-5 Clinical Electronic Thermometers (Board #:
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
and
(b)(4)
) lacked documentation of the evaluation of a nonconformance to determine the need for an investigation.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA-25-004 and CAPA-25-006, your immediate corrections were to
(b)(4)
. The corrective actions are to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
;
(b)(4)
;
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. However, there were no corrective actions to retrospectively document evaluations of nonconformances for your Clinical Electronic Thermometers, Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes, and Needle Microprobe (MT-D) for a reasonable period of time, to determine whether an investigation is necessary. Despite claims in your response that TH-5 boards in the Pre-Test Log were conforming units, the issues regarding battery and count failures recorded under "Description of Fault" column for all
(b)(4)
PCBs classify them as nonconformances that require evaluation for the need for an investigation.
Please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
4. Failure to establish and maintain procedures that define the responsibility for review and the authority for the disposition of nonconforming product. The procedures shall set forth the review and disposition process. Disposition of nonconforming product shall be documented, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(b)(1); and Failure to establish and maintain procedures for rework, to include retesting and reevaluation of the nonconforming product after rework, to ensure that the product meets its current approved specifications. Rework and reevaluation activities, including a determination of any adverse effect from the network upon the product, shall be documented in the DHR, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(b)(2).
Specifically, your nonconforming product procedure titled “Part 06: Device Investigation” (Rev 2; Effective: 5/17/10) is inadequate in that it fails to require:
A. Documentation of the disposition of the nonconforming product, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(b)(1). For example, you were unable to provide documented dispositions for
(b)(4)
of the
(b)(4)
nonconformances recorded in the “Rejected Logbook” for your Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes including (but not limited to) the SST-1 on 8/15/24 for “no reading & duff mark on white area” (Batch #
(b)(4)
); RET-1 on 1/8/25 for “Tip too big” (Batch #
(b)(4)
); and OT-1 on 1/21/25 for “scratches” (Batch #
(b)(4)
). In addition, review of the “Circuit Board Assembly, Fault Record” dated 12/6/23 revealed that at least
(b)(4)
nonconformances for “cant [sic] set low batt”, “cant [sic] count up”, or “low battery stays on” found during the pretesting of printed circuit boards (PCBs) pertaining to TH-5 Clinical Electronic Thermometers (Board #:
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
and
(b)(4)
) lacked documentation of the dispositions.
B. Documentation of the retesting and reevaluation of the nonconforming product after rework to ensure that the product meets its current approved specifications and determination of any adverse effect from the rework upon the product, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(b)(2). Your procedure lacks such requirements as it only states that “***
(b)(4)
***” and “***
(b)(4)
***Initiating department will inspect the rework, complete the log and any other paperwork required before continuing normal assembly process***.” For example, your Production Manager was unable to provide documentation of retesting and reevaluation of reworks, including determination of any adverse effect from the rework, performed on the nonconforming Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes logged in the “Rejected Logbook” for RET-1 on 4/5/24 (Batch #
(b)(4)
); SST-2 on 4/12/24 (Batch #
(b)(4)
); ESO-1 on 6/13/24 (2 lines, Batch #
(b)(4)
); and ESO-1 on 6/27/24 (2 lines, Batch #
(b)(4)
).
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA-25-004 and CAPA-25-006, your immediate corrections were to
(b)(4)
. The corrective actions are to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
;
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. Despite stating that all future reworks will be
(b)(4)
, this corrective action was not included in either of the CAPAs. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address this deficiency. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
5. Failure to establish and maintain procedures for receiving, reviewing, and evaluating complaints by a formally designated unit, as required by 21 CFR 820.198(a).
Specifically, your complaint procedures titled “Part 10 Complaint, MDR” (Rev. 5; Effective: 12/24/08), “Processing Complaint Forms” (Rev. 1; Effective: 8/22/06), and “Repair Receiving and Service Report” (Complaint Form 2007; Rev. 2; Effective: 3/25/09) are inadequate in that:
They only require complaint processing of returns from customers and no other forms of written, electronic, or oral communication that allege deficiencies related to the identity, quality, durability, reliability, safety, effectiveness, or performance of a device (i.e., complaint) as defined under 21 CFR 820.3(b). In addition, you stated that medical devices outside of the warranty period are unlikely to be entered into the complaint system. For example, you did not process the complaint received via email on
(b)(4)
, for incorrect display values of the TH-5 Clinical Electronic Thermometer device as a complaint.
They lack instructions on how to evaluate complaints to determine whether they represent an event which is required to be reported to FDA under part 803 of this chapter, Medical Device Reporting (MDR). For example, your Complaint Form 2007 only includes a “Yes” or “No” field under the “Mandatory Report Needed” field.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA-25-002, your immediate correction is to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. Your corrective actions are to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
followed up with
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
;
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
;
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
; and
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. However, there were no actions identified to retrospectively review all correspondence with customers (e.g., emails, letters, phone calls, etc.) for products outside of the warranty period as well as from non-returns, for a reasonable time frame, to determine whether they should have been processed as complaints. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address this deficiency. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
6. Failure to investigate any complaint involving the possible failure of a device, labeling or packaging to meet any of its specifications, unless such investigation has already been performed for a similar complaint and another investigation is not necessary, as required by 21 CFR 820.198(c).
Specifically, you did not review, evaluate, and investigate complaints which involved the possible failure of a device, labeling, or packaging to meet any of its specifications, as required by 21 CFR 820.198(c). For example, there was no documented investigation (or reference to another investigation) for the complaint received via email on
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
for incorrect display values of the TH-5 Clinical Electronic Thermometer.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA-25-002, your corrective actions are to
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
followed up with
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
;
(b)(4)
(e.g., product, alleged malfunction, impact on user, risk assessment) on the complaint form by
(b)(4)
; and
(b)(4)
by
(b)(4)
. However, there were no actions identified to investigate any previous correspondence with customers (e.g., emails, letters, phone calls, etc.) that you designate as complaints per a retrospective review when there is an allegation of possible failure of a device, labeling, or packaging to meet any of its specifications. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address this deficiency.
Unapproved Device Violation(s)
Our inspection also revealed that the Clinical Electronic Thermometers (TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP), Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2), and at least one of your Needle Microprobes (MT-D) are adulterated under section 501(f)(1)(B) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 351(f)(1)(B), because your firm does not have, for any of these devices, an approved application for premarket approval (PMA) in effect pursuant to section 515(a) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360e(a), or an approved application for an investigational device exemption under section 520(g) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360j(g). The devices are also misbranded under section 502(o) the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352(o), because your firm did not notify the agency of its intent to introduce the devices into commercial distribution, as required by section 510(k) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360(k). For a device requiring premarket approval, the notification required by section 510(k) is deemed satisfied when a PMA is pending before the agency. 21 CFR 807.81(b). The kind of information that your firm needs to submit in order to obtain approval or clearance for the device is described on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/HowtoMarketYourDevice/default.htm. The FDA will evaluate the information that your firm submits and decide whether the product may be legally marketed.
As discussed further below, your firm’s Clinical Electronic Thermometers (TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP), Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2), and Needle Microprobes (MT-D) are class II devices regulated under 21 CFR 880.2910 (“Clinical electronic thermometer”). These devices are not exempt from premarket notification requirements under § 880.2910 because they have continuous temperature measurement functions. See 21 CFR 888.2910(b)(2); 90 Fed. Reg. 25889, 25890 (June 2025) (“Examples of thermometers with continuous temperature measurement functions include temperature probes intended to monitor body temperature during surgical procedures, temperature probes affixed to the skin of neonates or infants intended to monitor body temperature, thermometer patches affixed to the patient's skin, or thermometers that are swallowed to monitor a patient's body temperature.”).
First, the Clinical Electronic Thermometers (TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP) are signal amplification, conditioning, and display units intended to measure human body temperature when coupled with a transducer and are class II devices regulated under 21 CFR 880.2910.
Your marketing materials indicate that these thermometers are intended for recording human temperature measurements. For example, page 3 of your firm’s product brochure states that the Clinical Electronic Thermometer models (TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP) are intended for “hospital use” and describe “clinical uses” of the thermometers including “profiling tumor temperature during cancer hyperthermia and measuring myocardial temperature during bypass surgery.” In addition, your firm’s website (https://www.physitemp.com/) states that all of the thermometer model numbers referenced above are “ideal for laboratory or hospital use” and are “intended for continuous monitoring in the hospital or laboratory.” Because these products are intended to continuously measure human body temperature, they are not exempt from premarket notification requirements (see 21 CFR 880.2910(b)(2)).
Second, the Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2) are transducers intended to measure human body temperature when coupled with an electronic signal amplification, condition, and display unit, and are class II devices regulated under 21 CFR 880.2910.
Your marketing materials indicate that these probes are either compatible with the aforementioned Clinical Electronic Thermometers or with other marketed clinical electronic thermometers. For example, your firm’s website lists probe models OT-1, ESO-1, and RET-1 as “compatible probes” with all of the aforementioned Clinical Electronic Thermometer models and lists probe models SST-1 and SST-2 as “compatible probes” with Clinical Electronic Thermometer model TH-8/AOP.
Your marketing materials also indicate that these probes are intended for recording human temperature measurements. For example, page 6 of your firm’s product brochure lists all of the probe model numbers referenced above under the heading “Clinical Probes”; page 6 of your firm’s product brochure states that RET-1 is for human use; and page 4 of your firm’s product brochure contains a photograph showing SST-1 being held against a human forearm. In addition, your firm’s Suggested Sterilizing Cycle Parameters for probe models ESO-1, RET-1, SST-1, and SST-2 states that users should refer to “your hospital standard procedure for a reusable syringe or sterile O.R. pack,” demonstrating that the instructions are for users of the probes in a hospital setting. Also, your firm’s website indicates that probe models OT-1, ESO-1, RET-1, SST-1, and SST-2 are intended for measuring human temperature on the skin and in the mouth, esophagus, and rectum, and their clinical use in hospitals would include temperature measurements on patients. Lastly, your firm’s website provides information for probe models OT-1, ESO-1, RET-1, SST-1, and SST-2 regarding “[w]hen probe is used for continuous measurements.” Because these probes are intended to measure continuous body temperature, they are not exempt from premarket notification requirements (see 21 CFR 880.2910(b)(2)).
Third, at least one of your firm’s Needle Microprobes (MT-D) is a transducer intended to measure human body temperature when coupled with an electronic signal amplification, condition, and display unit, and is a class II device regulated under 21 CFR 880.2910.
Your marketing materials indicate that these microprobes are compatible with the aforementioned Clinical Electronic Thermometers. For example, page 7 of your firm’s product brochure includes a number of different microprobes, including microprobe model MT-D, compatible with the Thermalert Monitoring Thermometers (i.e., Clinical Electronic Thermometers), and your firm’s website lists MT-D as a “compatible probe []” with thermometer models TH-5, TH-5/AOP, and TH-8.
Your marketing materials also indicate that some of these microprobes are intended for recording human temperature measurements. For example, page 7 of your firm’s product brochure describes microprobe model MT-D as for “locating inflammation, arteries, etc. Also for dental use.” In addition, your firm’s website states that microprobe model MT-D is “ideal for dental applications,” and provides information for “when probe is used for continuous measurements.” Because these microprobes are intended to measure continuous body temperature, they are not exempt from premarket notification requirements (see 21 CFR 880.2910(b)(2)).
During the inspection, you stated that you believe the subject devices are pre-amendment devices. However, you have not provided evidence beyond your assertions to demonstrate that the subject devices, in their present form, were labeled, promoted, and introduced into interstate commerce as clinical electronic thermometers prior to May 28, 1976. Your firm's failure to submit 510(k)s for these devices has prevented FDA from determining whether these devices are substantially equivalent to an appropriate predicate device and whether there is reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of these devices.
Medical Device Reporting (MDR) Violation(s)
Our inspection (also) revealed that you have failed to develop, maintain, and implement written MDR procedures as required by 21 CFR 803.17 for your firm’s Clinical Electronic Thermometers (TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP), Clinical Temperature Monitoring Probes (OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; SST-1; SST-2), and at least one of your Needle Microprobes (MT-D). For example, during the inspection, your firm presented its document titled “Standard Operating Procedure Part 10: Complaint, MDR”, Rev 5, dated 12/24/2008, as its written MDR procedure. Upon review, we determined that this one‐paragraph MDR procedure does not contain sufficient information to demonstrate that it was developed in accordance with the requirements of 21 CFR 803.17.
We reviewed your firm’s response dated
(b)(4)
, and conclude that it is not adequate. In the response, your firm provided a copy of its revised MDR procedure titled “Medical Device Reporting (MDR)”, SOP‐QA‐044, Rev. A, dated July 2, 2025. Your firm also indicated plans to conduct staff training on the revised procedure and to perform a retrospective review of all complaints received over the past four years. Please note that both the training and retrospective review are still ongoing, and no evidence has been provided to assess their adequacy. However, upon review of the revised procedure, we noted the following deficiencies:
1. The procedure does not establish internal systems that provide for timely and effective identification, communication, and evaluation of events that may be subject to MDR requirements, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(1). For example, the procedure does not include adequate definitions of what constitutes a reportable event under 21 CFR Part 803. The fact that the procedure does not include definitions from 21 CFR 803.3 for the terms “become aware”, “caused or contributed”, and the description in 21 CFR 803.20(c)(1) of the type of information that “reasonably suggests” a reportable event, may lead your firm to make an incorrect reportability decision when evaluating a complaint that may meet the criteria for reporting under 21 CFR 803.50.
2. The procedure does not establish internal systems that provide for timely transmission of complete medical device reports to the FDA, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(3). Specifically, your procedure does not include:
a. Instructions for how to complete the FDA 3500A form.
b. How your firm will ensure that all information reasonably known to you is submitted for each event. Specifically, which sections of the Form 3500A will need to be completed to include all information found in your firm’s possession.
c. The circumstances under which your firm must submit supplement or follow-up reports and the requirements for such reports, as required by 21 CFR 803.56.
We note that a device is deemed misbranded under section 502(t)(2) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352(t)(2), if there was a failure or refusal to furnish material or information respecting the device required by or under section 519 of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360i, and under 21 CFR Part 803 - Medical Device Reporting.
Unique Device Identification (UDI) Violation(s)
The inspection revealed that your devices are misbranded within the meaning of section 502(c) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352(c), because a word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of section 519 of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360i, to appear on the label or labeling of the devices was not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices, in the labeling) and in such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use. In particular, 21 CFR 801.20(a) – which was promulgated under authority of section 519 of the Act, among other provisions – requires, with exceptions not relevant here, that the label and device package of every medical device bear a unique device identifier (UDI) that meets the requirements of 21 CFR Part 801, subpart B, and 21 CFR Part 830. The labels of the TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP, OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; MT-D; SST-1; and SST-2 do not bear such a UDI.
Specifically, the labels for TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP, OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; MT-D; SST-1; and SST-2 devices do not include a device identifier within the meaning of 21 CFR 801.3 or 830.3, and there is no UDI presented in easily readable plain-text on the label of the device (see 21 CFR 801.40(a)(1)), and there is no UDI presented in machine-readable form that uses automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology on the label of the device (see 21 CFR 801.40(a)(2)).
In addition, the TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP, OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; MT-D; SST-1; and SST-2 devices are misbranded within the meaning of section 502(t)(2) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352(t)(2), in that there was a failure or refusal to furnish any material or information required by or under section 519 of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360i, respecting this device. In particular, 21 CFR 830.300(a) and 830.320(b) – both of which were promulgated under section 519 of the Act, among other provisions – require that the labeler of a device submit electronically to FDA’s Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID) the information required by 21 CFR Part 830, subpart E, for each version or model required to bear a UDI. FDA has determined that your firm causes a label to be applied to a device with the intent that the device will be commercially distributed without any subsequent replacement or modification of the label. Our inspection revealed that your firm designs the finished product label for your TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP, OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; MT-D; SST-1; and SST-2 devices and final product labeling reflects your firm’s name, address, and website. Physitemp Instruments, LLC is therefore a “labeler” within the meaning of 21 CFR 830.3 and has not submitted to GUDID any information required by 21 CFR Part 830, subpart E, respecting this device.
Based on review of the Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID) on November 3, 2025, there is no company of “Physitemp” found when searching for the names of the various versions/models described in your firm’s marketing materials: TH-5; TH-5/AOP; TH-8; TH-8/AOP, OT-1; ESO-1; RET-1; MT-D; SST-1; and SST-2. In addition, the following listings and premarket numbers your firm registers and lists were not found in GUDID:
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
,
(b)(4)
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(b)(4)
.
Your firm should take prompt action to address any violations identified in this letter. Failure to adequately address this matter may result in regulatory action being initiated by the FDA without further notice. These actions include, but are not limited to, seizure, injunction, and civil money penalties.
Other federal agencies may take your compliance with the FD&C Act and its implementing regulations into account when considering the award of federal contracts. Additionally, should FDA determine that you have Quality System regulation violations that are reasonably related to premarket approval applications for Class III devices, such devices will not be approved until the violations have been addressed. Should FDA determine that your devices or facilities do not meet the requirements of the Act, requests for Certificates to Foreign Governments (CFG) may not be granted.
Please notify this office in writing within fifteen business days from the date you receive this letter of the specific steps your firm has taken to address the noted violations, as well as an explanation of how your firm plans to prevent these violations, or similar violations, from occurring again. Include documentation of the corrections and/or corrective actions (which must address systemic problems) that your firm has taken. If your firm’s planned corrections and/or corrective actions will occur over time, please include a timetable for implementation of those activities. If corrections and/or corrective actions cannot be completed within fifteen business days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which these activities will be completed. Your firm’s response should be comprehensive and address any violations included in this Warning Letter. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the FD&C Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration as part of your response.
Your firm’s response should be sent via email to Gina Brackett, Establishment Assessment Team 1 Assistant Director at CDRHEnforcement@fda.hhs.gov. Please include in the subject line, “CMS Case # 717394” when replying. If you have any questions about the contents of this letter, please contact: Sargum C. Morgan, Compliance Officer at sargum.morgan@fda.hhs.gov.
Finally, you should know that this letter is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the violations at your firm’s facility. It is your firm’s responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations administered by FDA. The specific violations noted in this letter and in the Inspectional Observations, FDA 483, issued at the close of the inspection may be symptomatic of serious problems in your firm’s manufacturing and quality management systems. Your firm should investigate and determine the causes of any violations and take prompt actions to address any violations and bring the products into compliance.
Sincerely,
/S/
Barbara C. Marsden
Acting Director
Office of Regulatory Programs
Office of Product Evaluation and Quality
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
CC:
Yirelisa Alcantara, QA Regulatory Coordinator, yalcantara@physitemp.com
David Pendleton, President and CEO of Glas-Col, LLC, pinnacle@glascol.com
Content current as of:
03/31/2026
Regulated Product(s)
Medical Devices