When can an IRB conduct an expedited review of a study?

An institutional review board (IRB) can conduct an expedited review of a study when the research poses minimal risk to participants and meets specific criteria established by regulatory guidelines. This type of review is applicable in situations where the research activities involve no more than minimal risk and fit into specified categories outlined in federal regulations, such as studies involving certain types of data collection or interventions.

The criteria for expedited review are designed to ensure that the rights and welfare of participants are adequately protected without the need for a full board review, which can be time-consuming. This allows for a more efficient process while still upholding ethical standards in research.

The option stating that all subjects are healthy volunteers does not inherently qualify a study for expedited review. Similarly, there are circumstances under which informed consent is not required, but this does not alone justify an expedited review. Lastly, conducting expedited review solely based on a study being for a student research project does not align with the essential criteria needed for this type of review; student projects must still meet the same risk and criteria standards as any other research study.