PFAS in Medical Devices

August 11, 2025

Read the full article (FDA)

"PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and their possible relationship to people’s health has been a recent topic of public interest. This page may help you better understand why certain PFAS are used in medical devices.

PFAS are a very broad and diverse group of chemicals with wide industrial uses. There are thousands of different kinds.

The PFAS used in medical devices are not the same as those identified as being potentially harmful to people in other contexts. The PFAS materials used in medical devices (known as fluoropolymers) have a long history of use. The best-known of these materials is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is used in multiple consumer products, and was first used in a medical device in the 1950s.

The FDA’s evaluation is that currently there is no reason to restrict their continued use in devices."