A system and method are provided for interrogating an implantable medical device (IMD) using a platform-independent interrogation process with an interrogator device, such that the interrogation is initiated by the interrogator device without requiring information relating to the location of where the diagnostic data is stored in the memory of the IMD and without requiring information related to the type or format of the diagnostic data. By utilizing a platform-independent interrogation process, a generic universal interrogation process can be utilized that can be extended across IMDs and interrogator devices capable of having different platforms. Further, the platform-independent interrogation process allows an interrogation device to interrogate different types of IMDs, and also allows IMDs to be interrogated by different types of interrogator devices, thereby allowing IMDs and interrogator devices to be interchangeably used and easily updated without requiring entire interrogation system reconfigurations.