# Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and Food and Drug Administration Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays; Availability; Extension of Comment Period
**AGENCY:**
Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
**ACTION:**
Notice; extension of comment period.
**SUMMARY:**
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the comment period on the “Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and FDA Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays.” The agency announced the availability of this draft guidance in the *Federal Register* of September 7, 2006 (71 FR 52800). The initial comment period closes on December 6, 2006. To provide interested persons additional time to review and submit comments on the draft guidance, the agency has decided to extend the comment period.
**DATES:**
Submit written or electronic comments on this draft guidance by March 5, 2007. General comments on agency guidance documents are welcome at any time.
**ADDRESSES:**
Submit written requests for single copies of the guidance document entitled “Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and FDA Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays” to the Division of Small Manufacturers, International, and Consumer Assistance (HFZ-220), Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., Rockville, MD 20850. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your request, or fax your request to 240-276-3151. See the *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* section for information on electronic access to the guidance.
Submit written comments concerning this draft guidance to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic comments to *http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments* . Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Courtney Harper, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (HFZ-440), Food and Drug Administration, 2098 Gaither Rd., Rockville, MD 20850, 240-276-0490, ext. 162.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Background**
FDA is extending the comment period on the “Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and FDA Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays.” This draft guidance is intended to provide clarification on FDA's approach to regulation of in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assays.
The agency issued this draft guidance on September 7, 2006. The initial comment period on the draft guidance closes on December 6, 2006, but at the request of in vitro diagnostic device stakeholders, the agency has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 90 days, until March 5, 2007.
**II. Comments**
Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see *ADDRESSES* ), written or electronic comments regarding this document. Submit electronic comments to *http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments* . Submit two paper copies of any mailed comments, except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
**III. Electronic Access**
Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the draft guidance may do so by using the Internet. To receive “Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Laboratories, and FDA Staff on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays,” you may either send an e-mail request to *[email protected]* to receive an electronic copy of the document or send a fax request to 240-276-3151 to receive a hard copy. Please use the document number 1610 to identify the guidance you are requesting.
CDRH maintains an entry on the Internet for easy access to information including text, graphics, and files that may be downloaded to a personal computer with Internet access. Updated on a regular basis, the CDRH home page includes device safety alerts, *Federal Register* reprints, information on premarket submissions (including lists of approved applications and manufacturers' addresses), small manufacturer's assistance, information on video conferencing and electronic submissions, Mammography Matters, and other device-oriented information. The CDRH Web site may be accessed at *http://www.fda.gov/cdrh* . A search capability for all CDRH guidance documents is available at *http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/guidance.html* . Guidance documents are also available on the Division of Dockets Management Internet site at *http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets* .
Dated: November 20, 2006.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.