Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product and regulatory information for laboratory and clinic staff. It is not medical advice and does not describe how to perform a procedure.
Short answer
A cold snare is a wire-loop snare used to remove a polyp without passing electrical current through it. The technique is called cold snare polypectomy (CSP); when electrocautery is applied, it is hot snare polypectomy (HSP). “Cold” and “hot” describe the technique, not a separate FDA device category: FDA lists snares under product codes FDI and FDJ, both class II.
Definition and scope
In the literature, cold snare polypectomy means resection without electrocautery, and the hot version is resection with electrocautery (Chaptini et al., 2024). This page covers the device and the technique at a general level for people who stock, specify or document endoscopy supplies. It does not cover how to carry out a polypectomy.
Related terms you will see in product listings and papers:
- Cold snare polypectomy (CSP): snare resection with no current applied.
- Hot snare polypectomy (HSP): snare resection with electrocautery applied. Hot forceps polypectomy is the forceps equivalent.
- Dedicated cold snare: a snare designed for CSP. The 2024 editorial describes these as having a “thin, stiff wire with a braided configuration”, and notes that stiffness can help where other snares may slip on nonpolypoid lesions.
How it is used in practice
Snares are accessories passed through an endoscope (see what an endoscope is). Which technique is used is a clinical decision for the treating clinician, and nothing on this page replaces that decision.
Types and related concepts
Two FDA product codes cover snares. Both sit under 21 CFR 876.4300, the regulation for endoscopic electrosurgical units and accessories, which lists “flexible snare” and “self-opening rigid snare” among the covered devices. That regulation is classed as Class II (performance standards).
| Product code | FDA device name | Class | Regulation | Specialty (openFDA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDI | Snare, Flexible | 2 | 21 CFR 876.4300 | Gastroenterology, Urology |
| FDJ | Snare, Rigid Self-Opening | 2 | 21 CFR 876.4300 | Gastroenterology, Urology |
The regulation is written for electrosurgical accessories, yet a cold snare applies no current. The table lists what the FDA database states for the snare codes. For background on how devices are grouped, see FDA medical device classification, 510(k) and PMA and what an electrosurgical unit is.
What this means for supply and documentation
Because the technique and the device are separate questions, a product listing, a procedure record and a regulatory record may each use “cold” differently. Use the FDA product code and 510(k) record to describe what a device is cleared as, and the manufacturer’s instructions for use to describe what technique it is intended for. Staff who maintain an endoscopy supply list can pair this page with the endoscopy center supply checklist.
Common misunderstandings
- “Cold snare is a different FDA device type.” The FDA database lists snares as FDI (flexible) and FDJ (rigid self-opening); “cold” and “hot” name the technique.
- “Cold snare means no snare design differences.” The 2024 editorial describes dedicated cold snares with a thin, stiff wire with a braided configuration, distinct from conventional snares also used for hot snare polypectomy.
FAQ
What is cold snare polypectomy?
It is polyp removal with a snare and without electrocautery. The same snare procedure with electrocautery is hot snare polypectomy (Chaptini et al., 2024).
What FDA class is a snare?
The FDA database lists “Snare, Flexible” (FDI) and “Snare, Rigid Self-Opening” (FDJ) as class 2 devices under 21 CFR 876.4300.
Where does endoscope reprocessing fit in?
Reprocessing concerns the endoscope itself, not the snare technique; see endoscope reprocessing.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-30.
- openFDA device classification, product codes FDI and FDJ: https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:FDI and https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:FDJ
- 21 CFR 876.4300, Endoscopic electrosurgical unit and accessories: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/876.4300
- Chaptini LA, Jalloul S, Karam K. Cold snare polypectomy: a closer look at the efficacy and limitations for polyps 10-20 mm in size. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2024;16(8):445-450: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11325874
