NMPA published Registration Guideline on Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Antigen/Antibody Detection Reagent on February 25, addressing the urgent needs of virus diagnostics. It is the second major regulation after theGuideline on Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Detection Reagentpublished on Feb 12.

 

Accelerated Approval

 

As of March 1, national NMPA granted 14 Emergency Approvals to Coronavirus diagnostics including 10 employing the nucleic acid method and 4 utilizing antibodies. Among them, it only took 4 days for the first four reagents to go to market.

In a separate notice, NMPA explains the timeline of Emergency Approval which include Nucleic Acid Detection Reagent, Antibody Detection Regent and a wide range of medical supplies:

Class II Device

5-day technical review and 3-day administrative approval process

Class III Device

10-day technical review and 3-day administrative approval process

The Notice also require testing centers to begin test in 1 day after receiving your testing samples.

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Application Scope

The guideline is for registration of antigen/antibody detection reagents for in vitro qualitative testing. Testing sample can be obtained from serum, plasma, whole blood, throat swabs, alveolar lavage fluid, sputum, or other respiratory secretions.

Performance Evaluation

Specific research methods, experimental schemes, experimental data and statistical analysis shall be included in the material. The following shall be focused on:

Sample collection and processing

Detection limit

Verification of inclusivity of virus samples in different regions

Specificity analysis

IgM antibody detection reagent

Precision

Study on the hook effect

Reference product verification

Other matters needing attention (such as instrument’s performance evaluation)

Applicable sample types

Type Testing

Type testing shall be conducted at certified testing center; Testing report shall comply with PTR (product technical requirement); 3 batches of testing report shall be provided.

The product has no national reference material, so applicant’s reference material should be used for type testing.

Positive Test Results Determination

Determination material includes specific test protocols, population and subject sample selection, evaluation criteria, statistical analysis, research data, etc. The selection of the sample source used to establish the positive judgment value should take into account the influence of different geographical regions, different infection stages and physiological conditions. The sample type differences should be verified.

Main Raw Materials

The main raw materials include antigens, antibodies, quality control products, and reference materials. Relevant research materials such as selection and source of main raw materials, preparation process, quality standards should be provided.

If the main raw materials are self-made by the applicant, the detailed preparation process should be provided;

If the main raw materials are outsourced, information should be provided including: the basis for selecting the raw materials and comparative screening test data, the quality standards provided by the supplier, the factory inspection report. The supplier shall not be changed.

The applicant shall define the quality control standards for each major raw material:

Coronavirus-specific antigens and antibodies

Other main raw materials

Quality control kit and facility

Reference product

Production Processes and Reaction Systems

Stability

Stability study includes two main areas:

The reagent stability data: real-time stability,open-bottle stability, high-temperature accelerated stability, and transportation stability.

The sample stability: the validity period under two conditions of refrigeration and frozen.

Clinical Evidence

The clinical evaluation shall be conducted in at least three clinical trial institutions (including the CDCs at all levels); the test results from clinical case samples and similar products already on the market shall be compared with the intended reagent. It is recommended that the kits of multiple manufacturers be jointly verified in the same clinical trial institution. Following materials shall be provided:

Determination of clinical trial reference standard

Clinical trial population

Clinical trial sample types

Clinical trial sample size

Statistical analysis of clinical trial results

Format requirements for clinical evidence

To accelerate market introduction, clinical evaluation can be conducted after market approval. Also, TheReal-World Dataandoverseas clinical datacan be used for clinical evaluation.

 

Source from: “NMPA Guideline on Novel Coronavirus Antigen/Antibody Detection Reagent Issued”China Med Device, LLC , 6 March 20, https://chinameddevice.com/coronavirus-antigen-antibody-reagent/.