Clinical investigation of medical devices for human subjects — Good clinical practice (Edition 4, 2026)

Abstract
This document specifies good clinical practice (GCP) for the design, conduct, recording and reporting of clinical investigations carried out in human subjects to assess the clinical performance or effectiveness and safety of medical devices.

For post-market clinical investigations, the principles set forth in this document are intended to be followed as far as relevant, considering the nature of the clinical investigation (see Annex I).

This document specifies the general requirements intended to

protect the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects, users or other persons,
ensure the scientific conduct of the clinical investigation and the credibility of the clinical investigation results,
define the responsibilities of the sponsor and principal investigator, and
assist sponsors, investigators, ethics committees, regulatory authorities and other bodies involved in the conformity assessment of medical devices.
Other standards or national requirements can also apply to the investigational device(s) under consideration or the clinical investigation(s).

NOTE For Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), where appropriate, demonstration of the analytical validity (the SaMD’s output is accurate for a given input), the scientific validity (the SaMD’s output is associated to the intended clinical condition/physiological state), and clinical performance (the SaMD’s output yields a clinically meaningful association to the target use) of the SaMD, the requirements of this document apply as far as relevant (see Reference [5]). Justifications for exemptions from this document can consider the uniqueness of indirect contact between subjects and the SaMD.

This document does not apply to in vitro diagnostic medical devices. However, there can be situations, dependent on the device and national or regional requirements, where users of this document can consider whether either specific sections or requirements of this document, or both, can be applicable.

General information
Status : Published
Publication date : 2026-03
Stage : International Standard published
Edition : 4
Number of pages : 85

All standards

ISO 12234-4:2026

ISO 4074:2026

ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026

ISO 14155:2026

ISO 13914:2026

ISO 15027-1:2026

ISO/IEC TS 20071-40:2026

ISO/IEC 17020:2026

ISO 22366:2026

ISO 24976:2026

ISO 18166:2026

ISO 18319-1:2026