Review Process

Prior to publishing a Public Comment Profile, a Consensus Profile, a Technically Confirmed Profile, Claim Confirmed Profile or a Clinically Confirmed Profile:

• The process steps for review and approval do not differ depending on the stage
• The criteria do differ depending on the stage

Remember, this is the QA point for your work. It doesn't have to be perfect. It does have to be good.

Review (Biomarker Committee)

The following review process is strongly recommended, but Biomarker Committees are not required to follow this specific process.

• Editor of the Profile requests content review once they feel work on the current stage has been completed
• Biomarker Committee assigns/recruits reviewers for Profile sections
  • Ideally each section should be covered by more than one reviewer
  • Reviewing assignments can be divided up any way that is convenient
  • It is helpful to have some reviewers read through the profile in its entirety (finds inconsistencies/gaps)
• Reviewers check the Profile meets the criteria for the stage as well as guidelines for clarity/quality
  • A two week window for the reviewers to do their work is suggested
• Reviewers report back to the Biomarker Committee
• Authors and Biomarker Committee resolve any questions/comments/clarifications raised by the reviewers
• Chair accepts a motion to send the document to ballot

Approve (Biomarker Committee)

The main purpose of Biomarker Committee approval is to confirm that all the detailed contents are correct and the profile meets the criteria for the stage.

• Secretariat circulates a Ballot asking Biomarker Committee members to approve that the content of the Profile meets the criteria for the stage
  • The ballot period should be 2-5 weeks to allow time to review the full Profile text
  • In the case of approving to publish for Public Comment, it is acceptable to instead hold a vote during a committee meeting.

Approve (Coordinating Committee)

The main purpose of Coordinating Committee approval is to confirm that the profile is hitting the intended mark (e.g. the claim is on target) and to bring fresh eyes to the overall document (it is understandable, unburdensome and likely to be effective).

• Biomarker Committee provides the details of the BC ballot (highlighting any unresolved ballot comments) and requests approval to publish from the Coordinating Committee
  • Note that some Coordinating Committees only meet once every several months so the Biomarker Committee is advised to check on that to avoid missing a window
• Coordinating Committee puts on an upcoming meeting agenda a Vote in committee asking members to approve the Profile for publication.
  • Since there is a lengthy document involved, the agenda notification should be circulated at least 2 weeks before the meeting.
  • Coordinating Committee Chair may choose to do a ballot instead if that would be faster than waiting for the next meeting