Guidance

Magnetic resonance imaging equipment in clinical use: safety guidelines

Relevant safety information for users of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment in clinical use.

• From: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• Published: 7 November 2014
• Last updated: 30 September 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 30 September 2026

     Updated PDF to reflect updates to diagrams and other corrections.

  2. 13 August 2026

     Updated guidance document - New cover image added, update from UKAS and various other minor corrections.

  3. 30 July 2026

     This fifth edition of the MHRA Safety Guidelines for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment in Clinical Use has been rewritten with input from the following multiprofessional organisations: the British Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the Society of Radiographers (SoR), the British Institute of Radiology (BIR), the British Association of Magnetic Resonance Radiographers (BAMRR), and the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCA), as well as other international experts in MR safety.

  4. 4 April 2022

     elearning link added - https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/mri-safety/

  5. 4 February 2021

     Updated medical device regulatory information around the UKCA mark. Defined the 'MR Unlabelled' term. These changes follow the end of the transition period.

  6. 20 May 2016

     Guidance page was last updated March 2015. The updated guidelines include: section 4.11.4, advice on scanning patients with contraindicated implants, added reference to EFOMP and update links to gov.uk, section 4.10.4 updated to be consistent with section 2.6.3 and updated Appendix 4 to reflect change to Yellow Card reporting.

  7. 7 November 2014

     First published.

Documents

Safety guidelines for magnetic resonance imaging equipment in clinical use

PDF, 3 MB, 112 pages

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Details

This guidance is intended to:

• highlight things that should be considered before this equipment is bought and after it is installed
• be an introduction for those who are not familiar with this type of equipment and act as a reminder for those who are
• act as a reminder of the legislation and published guidance about this equipment
• highlight current risks and hazards

An elearning programme based on this guidance is available at Health Education England elearning for healthcare site.

This guidance can be read in combination with Guidance for MR Installations which has been developed by a multi-professional working group, including MHRA.