Are microbial challenges required for medical device packaging validation?

There is no universally accepted method of demonstrating microbial barrier properties, although there are efforts to address this that may eventually be incorporated into the standard. The part 1 standard section 5.2.2 indicates only that the microbial barrier requirement can be demonstrated by showing the material is impermeable. Annex C requires that impermeable materials for sterile barrier systems shall be tested for air permeance in accordance with ISO 5636-5. Other tests are noted in Annex B. In practice, demonstrating a sufficient microbial barrier is performed on the material itself by the raw material supplier and their test reports can be referenced in the MDM’s technical file.