The agencies are developing a roadmap for future measurement and standards needs across medical imaging, devices, diagnostics, and therapy, with public comments due Nov 30.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are seeking feedback from organizations, companies, and individuals to inform a roadmap on medical metrology and standards in medical imaging, devices, diagnostics, and therapy.
Metrology is the science of making precise, reproducible measurements with well-defined uncertainties, the agencies note. Measurement standards help ensure medical measurements are accurate, precise, and comparable across sites and over time—factors important to screening, diagnosis, and therapy planning.
NIST and NIH say rapidly advancing medical technology, including artificial intelligence, could significantly change future requirements for medical metrology and standards.
The agencies are seeking input on several areas, including:
- Areas where improved medical measurements are needed in medical imaging, devices, diagnostics, and therapy, and the standards and validation those measurements require
- New measurement areas that are not currently addressed by existing standards efforts
- Changes to medical metrology and standards processes that could support better, more cost-effective healthcare as technology evolves and AI is incorporated
- Examples of where medical metrology and standards have improved—or adversely affected—diagnostics, therapeutic outcomes, and cost efficiency
Feedback Will Inform Federal Roadmap
The feedback will inform a joint NIST and NIBIB roadmap identifying future needs for medical metrology and standards, key stakeholders, and priorities for future government programs.
Comments must be submitted online through regulations.gov under docket number NIST-2026-0133 by 11:59 pm ET on Nov 30, 2026.
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