When can the expedited review process be employed according to federal regulations?

The expedited review process can be employed when the research involves procedures that fall into specific eligible risk categories which are classified as having minimal risk. This is a critical aspect of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations, which allow for expedited reviews to streamline the review process for certain types of research activities that do not pose significant risks to participants.

Expedited review is designed specifically for studies that can be confidently assessed as posing minimal risk. This includes research that uses established methods and procedures that are common in clinical or educational settings. The goal is to allow research to proceed more rapidly without compromising the ethical standards of participant protection.

In contrast, research that involves greater than minimal risk would require a full review, as it poses potential harm to participants that necessitates thorough scrutiny. Non-vulnerable subjects might influence the perceived risk but do not directly qualify a study for expedited review on their own. Lastly, collecting data solely from public records does not automatically meet the criteria for expedited review, as the focus is primarily on the risk level associated with the research procedures, rather than the type of data being collected.