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General information, not medical advice. This page describes a product category and how FDA lists it. It does not tell anyone how to move or position a person.
Short answer
A patient transfer sheet, usually called a slide sheet, is a low-friction sheet used to help move or reposition a person lying in bed. In NLM’s AccessGUDID, one listed example is described as a “sliding sheet intended to help with moving and repositioning bedridden patients within the bed.” Makers list such sheets with FDA under product code FMR, a Class I, 510(k)-exempt category.
Definition and scope
This page uses “patient transfer sheet” for the sliding sheet used for repositioning in bed. Searchers also use the phrase for hand-off paperwork between care settings; that is a different topic and is not covered here.
A sheet of this kind reduces friction between a person and the surface under them. It does not lift anyone. The site’s patient lift guide draws the same line: a lift raises a person, while a slide sheet makes sliding easier.
How it is used in practice
AccessGUDID’s description for the Arion Trans-Slide entry (checked 2026-10-31) states the intended use as moving and repositioning bedridden patients within the bed. The same record carries the GMDN term “Patient transfer/turning sheet, reusable” and marks the product as not single-use. Manufacturers’ instructions for use govern how a particular sheet is positioned and handled; this page does not give placement or rolling steps.
Slide sheet compared with other transfer aids
| Aid | Where it is covered on this site |
|---|---|
| Slide sheet | Reduces friction for repositioning in bed; does not lift (per the patient lift guide) |
| Transfer board | How to use a transfer board, covering setup and safety checks |
| Banana board | Banana board (curved transfer board) explained, including its FDA regulation |
How FDA lists a slide sheet
- Product code FMR. FDA’s classification data (openFDA, checked 2026-10-31) lists FMR as “Device, Transfer, Patient, Manual”, device class 1, regulation number 880.6785, medical specialty General Hospital, GMP-exempt flag Y.
- The regulation text describes a stretcher. 21 CFR 880.6785(a) defines a manual patient transfer device as “a wheeled stretcher and a mechanism on which a patient can be placed so that the patient can be transferred with minimal disturbance in a horizontal position to the stretcher.” The text does not name slide sheets. Sheets are filed under the code by their makers, so a listing under FMR does not mean the regulation names sheets.
- Class I, exempt. Section 880.6785(b) classifies the device as Class I (general controls), exempt from 510(k) subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 880.9, and exempt from the quality management system regulation in part 820 except records and complaint files.
- Related items, different codes. A slide sheet dispenser in AccessGUDID (PATRAN Slide Sheets, Jamar Health Products) carries product code IKX, “Aid, Transfer”, rather than FMR. Related items can therefore appear under more than one code.
Checklist for reading a product listing
| Field | Where it appears | Example from the sources |
|---|---|---|
| Product code | AccessGUDID, FDA classification | FMR (Arion Trans-Slide); IKX (PATRAN dispenser) |
| Single-use flag | AccessGUDID | Single-Use: No (Arion Trans-Slide) |
| GMDN term | AccessGUDID | “Patient transfer/turning sheet, reusable” |
| Premarket exemption | AccessGUDID, FDA classification | Exempt from premarket submission: Yes |
| Sterile labeling | FDA classification for code FMR | The GMP exemption applies as long as the device is not labeled or otherwise represented as sterile |
Common misunderstandings
- A slide sheet is not a lift. It changes friction, not height.
- A product code is not a regulation that names the product. FMR points to 880.6785, whose text describes a stretcher-type device.
- “Exempt” does not mean unregulated. Class I general controls still apply; the exemption is from premarket notification and most of part 820.
- “Transfer sheet” can mean paperwork. Check which meaning a listing or search result uses.
FAQ
What is a patient transfer sheet?
A sliding sheet used to help move and reposition a person within a bed, as AccessGUDID describes the Arion Trans-Slide.
Is a transfer sheet the same as a slide sheet?
In product listings, yes: the same sheet is described as a sliding sheet and carries the GMDN term “Patient transfer/turning sheet, reusable”.
How does FDA classify it?
Makers list sheets under product code FMR: Class I, exempt from 510(k).
Sources
- FDA product classification data via openFDA, product code FMR, https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:FMR, checked 2026-10-31.
- eCFR, 21 CFR 880.6785 Manual patient transfer device, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-880/subpart-G/section-880.6785, checked 2026-10-31.
- NLM AccessGUDID, Arion Trans-Slide, https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/08717127932054, checked 2026-10-31.
- NLM AccessGUDID, PATRAN Slide Sheets dispenser, https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/00850050415169, checked 2026-10-31.
