Verify the study before you share private information

Verify the study, recruiter, and site

1. Search the NCT or protocol identifier yourself.
2. Match the official title, sponsor, responsible party, condition, intervention, and location.
3. Find the institution or facility through its own website or public directory.
4. Call the main number and ask for the research office or named investigator.
5. Confirm that the recruiter or vendor works with the site and study.

An NCT number, professional email domain, physical office, or matching name strengthens the chain. No single item proves legitimacy. Decentralized trials may use central sites, home-health vendors, couriers, device vendors, and remote consent. Require each relationship to be explained.

Verify the contact path

Compare the recruiter’s email domain and phone number with the registry and institution. When they differ, ask why. A sponsor or recruitment vendor may use its own domain. Call the institution’s published main line before replying to an unexpected message.

Never send passwords, one-time codes, gift cards, deposits, equipment fees, or enrollment fees to an unsolicited recruiter. Provide routing, account, or tax details only through a payment channel independently verified with the research site. A consent form may describe routine-care or research-related costs; verify any charge with the institution’s billing office and your insurer.

Confirm the consent path before procedures

Ask when consent occurs, who leads it, how you obtain a copy, and how questions are answered. For electronic consent, confirm the platform through the site, inspect the web address, and avoid signing through a link you cannot connect to the verified organization.

Consent should present information in understandable language and provide time for questions. Federal guidance for electronic consent (opens in a new tab) requires a way for prospective participants to consider the decision and receive answers.

Inspect the data channel

Ask which records are needed, who receives them, how they are transferred, and whether a narrower document can answer the question. Prefer a verified portal, direct health-system exchange, documented fax, encrypted method, or another channel the institution confirms.

Pause when a contact requests complete records before identifying the study and site, wants documents sent to an unrelated personal account, changes the recipient without explanation, or refuses to describe privacy practices.

Respond to pressure and inconsistent answers

Slow the process when the contact will not provide a study identifier, facility, consent document, rights contact, or written payment terms. Compare answers about visit count, procedures, restrictions, and reimbursement. Ask the team to correct discrepancies in writing.

A rushed enrollment window can exist. It does not remove the need for voluntary consent. Decline a deadline that prevents you from understanding the study.

Confirm the safety plan

Save the study doctor and after-hours number. Ask where to report symptoms, when to seek emergency care, how unblinding works when relevant, who pays for study-related injury care, and how your regular clinician receives information.

For an emergency, use local emergency services and follow the consent form’s instructions. Tell treating clinicians about the study intervention when safe and relevant. Keep the study card, medication or device details, and investigator contact available.