Categories of Research That May Be Reviewed by the
Institutional Review Board (IRB) through an
Expedited Review
Procedure1
Applicability
(A) Research
activities that (1) present no more than minimal risk to
human subjects, and (2) involve only procedures
listed in one or more of the following categories, may be
reviewed by the IRB through the expedited review
procedure authorized by
45 CFR 46.110 and 21 CFR 56.110. The activities
listed should not be deemed to be of minimal risk simply
because they are included on this list. Inclusion on this
list merely means that the activity is eligible for
review through the expedited review procedure when the
specific circumstances of the proposed research involve
no more than minimal risk to human subjects.
(B) The
categories in this list apply regardless of the age of
subjects, except as noted.
(C) The
expedited review procedure may not be used where
identification of the subjects and/or their responses
would reasonably place them at risk of criminal or civil
liability or be damaging to the subjects= financial standing,
employability, insurability, reputation, or be
stigmatizing, unless reasonable and appropriate
protections will be implemented so that risks related to
invasion of privacy and breach of confidentiality are no
greater than minimal.
(D) The
expedited review procedure may not be used for classified
research involving human subjects.
(E) IRBs are
reminded that the standard requirements for informed
consent (or its waiver, alteration, or exception) apply
regardless of the type of review--expedited or
convened--utilized by the IRB.
(F)
Categories one (1) through seven (7) pertain to both
initial and continuing IRB review.
Research
Categories
(1) Clinical
studies of drugs and medical devices only when condition
(a) or (b) is met.
(a)
Research on drugs for which an investigational new
drug application (21 CFR Part 312) is not required.
(Note: Research on marketed drugs that significantly
increases the risks or decreases the acceptability of
the risks associated with the use of the product is
not eligible for expedited review.)
(b)
Research on medical devices for which (i) an
investigational device exemption application (21 CFR
Part 812) is not required; or (ii) the medical device
is cleared/approved for marketing and the medical
device is being used in accordance with its
cleared/approved labeling.
(2)
Collection of blood samples by finger stick, heel stick,
ear stick, or venipuncture as follows:
(a) from
healthy, nonpregnant adults who weigh at least 110
pounds. For these subjects, the amounts drawn may not
exceed 550 ml in an 8 week period and collection may
not occur more frequently than 2 times per week; or
(b) from
other adults and children2, considering the age, weight,
and health of the subjects, the collection procedure,
the amount of blood to be collected, and the
frequency with which it will be collected. For these
subjects, the amount drawn may not exceed the lesser
of 50 ml or 3 ml per kg in an 8 week period and
collection may not occur more frequently than 2 times
per week.
(3)
Prospective collection of biological specimens for
research purposes by noninvasive means.
Examples:
(a) hair and nail clippings in a nondisfiguring manner;
(b) deciduous teeth at time of exfoliation or if routine
patient care indicates a need for extraction;
(c) permanent teeth if routine patient care
indicates a need for extraction; (d) excreta and external
secretions (including sweat); (e) uncannulated saliva
collected either in an unstimulated fashion or stimulated
by chewing gumbase or wax or by applying a dilute citric
solution to the tongue; (f) placenta removed at
delivery; (g) amniotic fluid obtained at the time of
rupture of the membrane prior to or during labor; (h)
supra- and subgingival dental plaque and calculus,
provided the collection procedure is not more invasive
than routine prophylactic scaling of the teeth and the
process is accomplished in accordance with accepted
prophylactic techniques; (i) mucosal and skin cells
collected by buccal scraping or swab, skin swab, or mouth
washings; (j) sputum collected after saline mist
nebulization.
(4)
Collection of data through noninvasive procedures (not
involving general anesthesia or sedation) routinely
employed in clinical practice, excluding procedures
involving x-rays or microwaves. Where medical devices are
employed, they must be cleared/approved for marketing.
(Studies intended to evaluate the safety and
effectiveness of the medical device are not generally
eligible for expedited review, including studies of
cleared medical devices for new indications.)
Examples:
(a) physical sensors that are applied either to the
surface of the body or at a distance and do not involve
input of significant amounts of energy into the subject
or an invasion of the subject's privacy; (b) weighing or testing
sensory acuity; (c) magnetic resonance imaging; (d)
electrocardiography, electroencephalography,
thermography, detection of naturally occurring
radioactivity, electroretinography, ultrasound,
diagnostic infrared imaging, doppler blood flow, and
echocardiography; (e) moderate exercise, muscular
strength testing, body composition assessment, and
flexibility testing where appropriate given the age,
weight, and health of the individual.
(5) Research
involving materials (data, documents, records, or
specimens) that have been collected, or will be collected
solely for nonresearch purposes (such as medical
treatment or diagnosis). (NOTE: Some research in this
category may be exempt from the HHS regulations for the
protection of human subjects. 45 CFR 46.101(b)(4). This listing refers only to
research that is not exempt.)
(6)
Collection of data from voice, video, digital, or image
recordings made for research purposes.
(7) Research
on individual or group characteristics or behavior
(including, but not limited to, research on perception,
cognition, motivation, identity, language, communication,
cultural beliefs or practices, and social behavior) or
research employing survey, interview, oral history, focus
group, program evaluation, human factors evaluation, or
quality assurance methodologies. (NOTE: Some research in
this category may be exempt from the HHS regulations for
the protection of human subjects. 45 CFR 46.101(b)(2) and (b)(3). This listing refers only
to research that is not exempt.)
(8)
Continuing review of research previously approved by the
convened IRB as follows:
(a)
where (i) the research is permanently closed to the
enrollment of new subjects; (ii) all subjects have
completed all research-related interventions; and
(iii) the research remains active only for long-term
follow-up of subjects; or
(b)
where no subjects have been enrolled and no
additional risks have been identified; or
(c)
where the remaining research activities are limited
to data analysis.
(9)
Continuing review of research, not conducted under an
investigational new drug application or investigational
device exemption where categories two (2) through eight
(8) do not apply but the IRB has determined and
documented at a convened meeting that the research
involves no greater than minimal risk and no additional
risks have been identified.