This practice covers recommendations for the retrieval, handling, and analysis of implanted medical devices and associated specimens that are removed from patients during revision surgery, at postmortem, or as part of animal studies. This practice can also be used for analysis of specimens and lubrication fluids from in vitro wear tests and joint simulators. The aim is to provide guidance in preventing damage to the associated specimens which could obscure the investigational results, and in gathering data at the proper time and circumstance to validate the study