What is the difference between verification and validation, and how are these terms defined? Even standards and laws use the terms incorrectly or in a misleading manner.
Find out how you can get your products such as medical devices safely through authorizations and audits thanks to precise verification and validation.
“Confirmation by means of the provision of objective evidence [...] that the requirements set out [...] have been met”.
Source: ISO 9000
This definition does not explain what type of “requirements” need to be confirmed by the verification. To avoid any uncertainties and confusion with stakeholder requirements, limiting these requirements to product or component requirements is recommended.
“Verification is a test using objective means that specified properties (e.g. of products, components) have been met”.
Source: Johner Institute, adapted from ISO 9000
These properties or features may be specified in a System Requirements Specification (SRS), for example, or in the component requirements
Examples of specified features are:
The verification of the usability is objective evidence that specified product features are met with reference to the usability. It is therefore a subset of the verification and is required by IEC 62366.
Examples of specified product features are font sizes, colors, contrast ratios, or general rules such as the marking of compulsory fields. This test (verification) is carried out for example in the form of inspections by usability experts. They check against
Do you want to learn more about the process for verifying and validating suitability for use? We recommend the seminar on “Usability & Requirements” by Thomas Geis.
“Confirmation by means of the provision of objective evidence […] that the requirements […] for a specific intended use or a specific intended application have been met”.
Source: ISO 9000:2015
Whether or not these requirements have been met for a specific use depends on the users and the usage context. For example, it is possible that the requirements of a defibrillator are met in an OR setting with professional users but not when it is used by laypersons on a wet street at night.
The definition of the term “validation” should therefore also be expanded:
“Confirmation by means of objective evidence that the specified usage objectives (purpose) can be achieved by the specified users in the specified usage context”
Source: Johner Institute
The validation is therefore the objective evidence that a specified user can achieve their specified usage objectives in the specified usage context. This test has two aspects:
The MDR and the IVDR both require:
In the case of products, the components of which include software, or products in the form of software, the software is developed and manufactured according to the latest technology standards. The principles of the software life cycle, risk management including information security, verification and validation must be taken into account.
MDR Annex I paragraph 17.2.
Manufacturers generally use IEC 62304 to prove that these requirements of verification and validation are met according to the latest technological developments. However, IEC 62304 only explicitly addresses the verification.
Software verification is usually carried out by means of:
The guidance document on MDCG 2020-1, which we summarized in our specialist article “clinical assessment of software”, provides a valuable addition.
The old Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC) required:
“For devices which incorporate software or which are medical software in themselves, the software must be validated according to the state of the art taking into account the principles of development lifecycle, risk management, validation and verification.”
MDD supplemented to include 2007/47/EC
This requirement uses the term “validation” and “validated” in two different contexts, which should not be confused.
Data scientists know validation from machine learning models, which differ from the two validations just mentioned.
Learn more about the topic Computerized Systems Validation (CSV) here.
According to IEC 62304, the software safety class determines the need for software system tests that are necessary for a verification of the software. No tests are set out in IEC 62304:2006 for safety class A; no unit, no integration, and no system tests. This changed with amendment I, which sets out at least software system tests.
According to ISO 14971, all measures that contribute to risk control must be verified. If you implement measures in software, you must subject them to a verification regardless of the safety class.
In software development, the V model is still anchored in many people’s heads and is also referenced by IEC 62304 and IEC 60601-1.
But how does IEC 60601-1 see this V model?
According to this standard, requirements of a programmable electrical medical system, or PEMS for short, are derived from user needs; in other words system requirements (see figure).
First of all, we need to consider what the standard considers to be user needs. This term is not defined. The authors probably understand it to be an unspecified mishmash of needs, desires, usage requirements and directly formulated system requirements. If you are that imprecise with the terms, you will achieve imprecise results.
You can see for yourself where this lack of precision comes from: the standard thinks it can validate the fulfillment of PEMS requirements, in other words system requirements.
However, system requirements can be verified (in a system test) but not validated.
By definition, however, you can validate usage requirements, but they do not appear, they are simply buried in the fog of user needs.
The results of verification and validation can be independent of one another. It is entirely conceivable for the verification of the medical device to be successful and the validation not or vice versa, as the following examples show:
Instead of the specified 3000 V, only 200 V is generated on the pads on the defibrillator (verification failed). The patient’s heart is beating (purpose) and is still beating after the use of the device (validation successful).
Read more about the verification and validation of IVD here.
Successful and legally compliant verification and validation are some of the most important requirements for the authorization of medical devices. Manufacturers should therefore not make mistakes.
Numerous tools are available to avoid problems.
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