A Study Risk Determination is a request for FDA determination for whether a planned medical device clinical study is significant risk (SR), non-significant risk (NSR), or exempt from IDE regulations as defined by the IDE regulations (21 CFR part 812). For studies that are not exempt, sponsors are responsible for making the initial risk determination (SR or NSR) and presenting it to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). FDA is available to help the sponsor, clinical investigator, and IRB in making the risk determination. FDA is the final arbiter as to whether a device study is SR or NSR and makes the determination when an IDE is submitted to FDA or if asked by the sponsor, clinical investigator, or IRB.

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