Laboratory, Hygienic, and Pharmaceutical Glassware (Other)

Plain glass microscope slides and cover glasses used as general laboratory consumables are not typically regulated as medical devices. However, slides pre-coated with reagents, antibodies, or other diagnostic materials may qualify as in-vitro diagnostic devices subject to FDA oversight. The regulatory status depends on the article's intended use and labeling; consult a regulatory affairs specialist or licensed customs broker before importing coated or functionalized slides.

Chapter 70 covers glass laboratory ware as a material-based category. Chapter 90 captures instruments and apparatus — such as optical instruments, measuring devices, or medical instruments — where the glass is a component of a more complex functional article. A plain glass beaker or flask belongs in Chapter 70; a calibrated volumetric instrument with glass components may shift to Chapter 90 depending on its precision and function.