UW Research

Exempt Research

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QUICK GUIDE

Research that is determined to be exempt is human subjects research that fits into specific categories and does not have to meet most of the requirements of the federal human subjects regulations. Only the UW Human Subjects Division (HSD) can make exempt determinations for UW research. Researchers conducting exempt research should review this guidance in addition to the following resources:

Purpose and Applicability

This webpage provides researchers, the Human Subjects Division (HSD), and the UW Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) with an overview of the requirements and best practices for conducting and overseeing research that is deemed to be “exempt”.

Context – Meaning of Exempt Status

It is human subjects research. Research that is determined to be exempt is still considered to be human subject research. However, it is exempt from meeting the requirements of the applicable federal human subjects regulations except for:

  • Fitting into the description of one or more exempt categories, and
  • Specific regulatory requirements that must be met to be considered exempt

Other policies and regulations still apply to the research. This includes:

  • UW and HSD policies about human subjects research
  • UW policies of all other types
  • Other federal and applicable international regulations, including but not limited to:
    • HIPAA privacy rules about protected health information (e.g., medical records)
    • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) rules about student records
    • Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) rules about giving surveys to students in schools
    • European Union Data Protection Rights (EU GDPR) law
  • Policies, rules, and requirements of federal funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Exempt status lasts until the research is complete. Exempt status does not have an expiration date and does not require continuing review. Note, however that modifications to the research may affect exempt status. Review the section on modifications, below. Once the review is complete, a determination letter is available in Zipline.

The purpose is to reduce administrative and regulatory burden on researchers and IRB offices by acknowledging that some types of research do not need the protective measures required by human subjects regulations because the research:

  • provides adequate protections to subjects through other regulations (such as HIPAA or FERPA) -and/or-
  • involves very low potential risks in a context where it is reasonable to expect that people would understand that actively providing responses to researchers constitutes agreement to participate -and/or-
  • involves risks associated with participation that are related to disclosure of the information they provide and, in some cases, those confidentiality risks are mitigated through the use of a limited IRB review.

Procedures – Determination of Exempt Status

Who makes exempt determinations?

HSD staff are the only UW individuals authorized to make exempt determinations. Most HSD staff are also IRB members. When limited IRB review is required for an exempt determination, an HSD staff person who is a designated IRB reviewer does the limited IRB review and exempt determination simultaneously.

The exempt determination process.

HSD staff determine whether every initial application qualifies for exempt status as part of the standard pre-review process (SOP Pre-Review). In addition, researchers may specifically submit an application in Zipline requesting exempt status, by following the appropriate instructions at the top of the IRB Protocol form and on this webpage. Researchers are required to obtain an exempt determination before beginning their research.

  • Multi-site and collaborative research. The UW does not typically rely on exempt determinations made by other institutions or allow other institutions to formally rely on its exempt determinations, but may do so in very limited circumstances determined by HSD leadership. However, other institutions may choose to accept HSD’s exempt determination depending on that institution’s policies for exempt research. If another institution will rely on the UW for limited IRB review, the reliance must be documented in the standard way for any reliance.

General exclusions from exemption.

The research is more than minimal risk. If the research involves more than minimal risk to subjects, it is not exempt, with the exception of exempt category 5, which can involve greater than minimal risk. This HSD policy is based on statements in the Preamble to the Revised Common Rule and numerous public communications by the federal Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP).
 
The research is FDA-regulated. Per HSD policy, exempt status is not granted to research that is subject to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Review the worksheet, Human Subjects Research Determination to determine whether the activity is human subjects research as defined and regulated by the FDA.
 
Subjects include prisoner populations. Exceptions include research that: (1) qualifies for exempt category 4; or (2) is not regulated by the Common Rule or the federal Department of Justice and is not subject to state Department of Corrections requirements for IRB review.

Additional Guidance

The Common Rule allows the involvement of prisoners if they are not a specific study population – that is, the research is aimed at a broader subject population that only incidentally includes prisoners. In addition, the Preamble to the Revised Common Rule states that subjects may continue their participation in exempt research if they become prisoners after beginning their participation.

For studies that qualify for the UW Flexibility Policy (GUIDANCE Authority and Responsibilities of HSD and UW IRB), research that focuses on prisoner records is allowable if it meets the criteria for an appropriate exempt category. No research involving interactions or interventions with prisoners qualifies for exempt status.

 
The research involves deception or concealment.
Exceptions:

  • The research qualifies for exempt category 3 and the subjects agree to be deceived or
  • Per HSD policy, all of the following are true about the deception/concealment: (1) it is not part of exempt category 3 procedures; (2) it is necessary to ensure valid results; (3) it is not being used to get subjects to do something that the majority of them would not do if the information was fully disclosed to them; and (4) the conditions pose no more than minimal risk of physical or emotional distress.

Additional Guidance

Deception includes deceiving the subjects about the nature or purpose of the research.

Conditions of deception or concealment means: the nature of the deception or concealment; how likely it is that the subjects will learn of the deception or concealment; the nature of any de-briefing; how likely it is that anyone outside the research team would learn results about a subject that could cause them distress.

The HSD policy named above is based on the recommendations of the Secretary’s Advisory Council on Human Research Protections (SACHRP) as described in the minutes for SACHRP’s meeting held on March 8-9, 2011, Attachment E, “The Use of Deception in Research”.

HSD policy does not require subject de-briefing unless the HSD reviewer determines that a de-briefing is necessary in order to reduce the risk level to no more than minimal risk.

 
The research doesn’t fit into one or more of the exempt categories. This means that to qualify for exempt status all of the research activities described in the Zipline application must fit into the categories of exempt research. Review the section below for a description of the exempt categories.

Examples of research that may or may not be exempt

  • A study that involves interviews and the secondary analysis of research data recorded without identifiers may qualify for exempt status because the research activities are described in exempt categories 2 and 4.
  • A study that involves interviews and blood draws will not qualify for exempt status because while interviews are described in exempt category 2, a blood draw is not an activity described in the categories of exempt research.
  • The first phase of a two-phase study involves only surveys and interviews. The second phase involves surveys, interviews, chart reviews, blood draws, and MRIs. The first phase may qualify for exempt status because interviews are included in the categories of exempt research, but the second phase will not. HSD staff may review the first phase as a stand-alone project and issue a determination of exempt status. The second phase could later be submitted as a modification, or as a separate IRB application, requiring IRB review.

 

Categories of Exempt Research

EXEMPT CATEGORY 1 – Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings that specifically involves normal education practices that are not likely to adversely impact students’ opportunity to learn required educational content or the assessment of educators who provide instruction.

This includes research on regular and special educational instructional strategies, and research on the effectiveness or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods.

Additional Guidance

Established or commonly accepted educational settings are settings where one would go to have an educational experience that is regularly offered in the location where the research will be conducted or that is commonly accepted in a specific culture or population. This could include a wide variety of traditional and nontraditional settings if they are established or commonly accepted, such as:

  • Public or private schools and classrooms offering K-12 education, college degrees or technical vocational instructions and certifications
  • After school clubs or programs, vocational schools, alternative education programs
  • Boy or Girl Scout meetings
  • Professional development seminars or programs (e.g., Toastmasters)
  • Driver education programs or schools
  • Education in applied settings (e.g., grocery stores that offer cooking or nutrition classes; bicycle shop that offers bicycle repair and maintenance classes; woodworking techniques instruction offered in a community “maker space”; skills development programs in children’s summer camps)
  • Distance and online educational programs
  • Internships and study abroad programs

Normal educational practices are activities that could occur in the specific educational setting regardless of whether the research is conducted. This includes a variety of activities that normally occur in the classroom or that are considered “best practice”. Examples include established teaching methods (not considered to be experimental) or curriculum, and commonly accepted classroom management techniques that are planned and implemented by the classroom teacher.

  • Examples that would likely be considered normal educational practice:
    • A study evaluating the effectiveness of a commonly accepted science curriculum. For the study, researchers will observe classroom instruction and collect quizzes and class evaluations that are part of the curriculum and classroom practice.
    • Comparisons of curricula, different instructional methods, or classroom management techniques that are currently being implemented in a school. Researchers will observe a classroom as well as interview instructors about their experiences implementing the instructional materials or methods (but not interview specific students).
    • A study comparing driver’s education curricula offered by area driving schools. The researcher will observe and compare group driving test scores at the end of the course.
    • Evaluation of student attitudes toward learning.
  • Examples that are generally not considered to be normal educational practice:
    • Research that involves deception because deception is not a normal education practice.
    • Collecting privileged or sensitive personal information for research purposes.

Tribal consultation. The Preamble to the Revised Common Rule states that, “where appropriate or mandated by tribal law, tribal consultation should take place”. HSD interprets this to apply to research that will occur in a tribal setting (e.g., at a school on tribal land) or in an educational setting where the majority of the students are Native American or Alaskan Native. There is nothing that prohibits tribal consultation in other circumstances as well, if appropriate.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 2 – Educational tests, surveys, interviews, observations of public behavior. Research that only includes interactions involving educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior (including visual or auditory recordings) will qualify for exempt category 2 if at least one of the following criteria is met:

  • The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot be readily ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects
  • Any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research would not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, educational advancement, or reputation
  • The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of human subjects can be readily ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, and an IRB conducts a limited IRB review to make the determination that, when appropriate, there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of data.

Research involving children does not qualify for this category if: (1) the research involves surveys, interviews, and/or observations of public behavior when the research team participates in the activities being observed; or (2) if limited IRB review is required.

Additional Guidance

Risk and risk mitigation. Although it is conceivable that there may be psychological risks to participating in surveys or interviews, or situational risks where awareness that someone was surveyed or interviewed poses a risk, the assumption for this category is that the potential risks are largely informational. It is reasonable to expect that individuals will understand that actively providing responses to educational tests, surveys, or interview procedures constitutes agreement to participate and that the risks associated with their participation are related to disclosure of the information they provide. Thus, the most important role the IRB (or other determination body) might play in reducing potential harm is to ensure appropriate privacy and confidentiality safeguards.

Limited IRB review. For details review the section on limited IRB review below.

Protected and vulnerable populations. There are no restrictions on the involvement of pregnant women. Research in this category must comply with the general restriction on the involvement of prisoners (General Exclusions from Exemptions). Children may not be involved in this category as described above.

Survey means the collection of information about individuals through questionnaires or similar procedures. It does not include the collection of biospecimens.

Public behavior means behavior taking place in a publicly accessible location in which the subject does not have an expectation of privacy. Examples of location include: a public plaza or park, street, building lobby or sections of a government building that are open to the public, some websites and social media sites. The Preamble to the Revised Common Rule states that the public behavior must not be influenced by the investigator and cannot involve an intervention. For examples, research involving observation of public behavior does not qualify for this exemption if the investigator intervenes with the subject by offering them a supposedly lost wallet to see if they will accept it.

Intervention. The use of an intervention is not allowed. The Preamble to the Revised Common Rule states that interventions that are distinct from the information collection methods allowable under this exemption do not satisfy the conditions of this exemption. It notes, however, that educational tests may include exposing test takers to certain materials as part of the test, and that such materials do not constitute interventions distinct from the test.

  • Examples of activities that are not interventions, because the activities are not distinct from data collection:
    • A reading comprehension test that directs subjects to read a passage and then answer questions about it
    • A geography test that presents a map to the subjects and asks them to draw information from the map
    • Survey that contain some information about which the subjects are asked questions
  • Examples of activities that are interventions:
    • Randomly assigning students to take an education test in a quiet room or a room with moderate noise
    • Randomly assigning students to consume a snack (or not) before taking a test
    • Surveys or interview in which the purpose is to see whether respondents answer questions differently depending on the interviewer’s gender

Task compared with intervention. The purpose of an intervention is to determine how an activity changes the subjects or their performance. Many tasks do not meet this definition of an intervention. In general, asking subjects to physically manipulate an object, play a game, complete a specific physical action, read, write, look at visual stimuli, listen to auditory stimuli, or imagine something would be considered interventions only if the intent of the activities were to change subjects or to compare results across different activities, physical stimuli, visual stimuli, auditory stimuli, etc.

  • Not an intervention – Ask subjects to physically manipulate an object as part of an educational test and ask subjects about the object or their manipulation of it
  • Not an intervention – Activities intended to elicit subjects’ strategy, method, or ability for performing a specific goal-directed activity
  • Intervention – Ask subjects to manipulate two objects with the purpose of comparing the results for object 1 versus object 2
  • Intervention – Ask subjects to read a paragraph about a current event in order to assess subjects’ attitudes about a societal problem before and after reading the paragraph
  • Intervention – Research that uses activities or stimuli in order to see whether the subjects’ thoughts, emotions, behaviors, or cognitive performance can be manipulated or changed by the activities or stimuli

Interpretation of the word “only”. HSD interprets the word “only” (i.e., the third word in the regulatory description) as defining what is acceptable for category 2. It does not exclude research from being considered exempt if some parts of the research fit into category 2 and the rest of the research fits into one or more of the other exempt categories.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 3 – Benign behavioral interventions. Research involving benign behavioral interventions in conjunction with the collection of information from an adult subject, through verbal or written responses (including data entry), or audiovisual recording will qualify for exempt category 3 if the subject prospectively agrees to the intervention and information collection and at least one of the following criteria is met:

  • The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects
  • Any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research would not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, educational advancement, or reputation
  • The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects can ready be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, and an IRB conducts a limited IRB review to make the determination that, when appropriate, there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of data.

Research involving children does not qualify for this exempt category.

Additional Guidance

Category 3 versus category 2. Unlike category 2, this category allows: (1) interventions distinct from other data collection methods; and (2) audiovisual recording is allowed without any educational tests, survey or interview procedures occurring.

Benign behavioral interventions are defined as brief in duration1, harmless, painless, not physically invasive, not likely to have significant adverse lasting impact on the subjects, and the researcher has no reason to think that the subjects will find the interactions/interventions/observations to be offensive or embarrassing.

1Brief in duration is intended to refer to the intervention as opposed to the intervention and the data collection activities together. Thus, the data collection activities could proceed over a longer period of time without precluding the applicability of this exemption. If the intervention and the data collection are intertwined and difficult to separate, the entirely of the activity should be brief in duration. To meet the requirement of brief in duration, the benign behavioral intervention should occur within one month and not exceed a few hours in its entirety.

Prospective agreement. Subjects must be asked to agree to participate in research. This is not the same as the requirement for consent or for documentation of consent. The request may be tailored to the nature of the specific study.

Deception. If the research involves deceiving subjects regarding the nature or purposes of the research, this exemption is not applicable unless the subjects authorize deception through a prospective agreement to participate in research in circumstances in which the subject is informed that they will be unaware of or misled regarding the nature or purposes of the research.

Limited IRB review. For details review the section on limited IRB review below.

Examples that qualify for this category

  • Having subjects play an online game
  • Having subjects solve puzzles under various noise conditions
  • Having subjects decide how to allocate a small amount of received cash between themselves and someone else
  • Comparing the test performance of test takers in quiet versus noisy surroundings

Examples that do not qualify for this category due to having some reason to think subjects would find the interventions offensive or embarrassing.

  • Milgram’s obedience experiments
  • Stanford Prison Experiment

EXEMPT CATEGORY 4 – Secondary research use of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens for which consent is not required, if at least one of the following criteria is met:

  • Publicly available. The identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens are publicly available.
  • Not identifiable as recorded. Information, which may include information about biospecimens, is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, the investigator does not contact the subjects, and the investigator will not re-identify subjects.
  • Use of PHI. The research involves only information collection and analysis involving the investigator’s use of identifiable health information when that use is regulated under HIPAA regulations, for the purposes of health care operations, research, or public health activities and purposes (as those purposes are described in the HIPAA regulations).
  • Note that HSD generally does not grant exempt status for the use of PHI. This is because the Secretary’s Advisory Council for Human Research Protections (SACHRP) recommendations point out that the use of this exemption for PHI becomes complicated when the PHI moves from one covered entity to another or from a covered entity to a non-covered entity. HSD leadership may allow the use of this exemption category for some research on a case-by-case basis.

  • Use of federally generated or collected information or biospecimens. The research is conducted by, or on behalf of, a federal department or agency using government-generated or government-collected information originally obtained for non-research activities, if the original collection and the secondary use of the information or biospecimens occurs in compliance with three specific federal statues meant to safeguard privacy.

Additional Guidance

The category allows the use of both retrospectively and prospectively gathered information or biospecimens.

Data from prisoners. This category allows for the use of identifiable information or biospecimens obtained from prisoners so long as the research does not intentionally recruit prisoners (i.e., only incidental inclusion of prisoners is allowed).

The category is limited to the secondary use of information or biospecimens. Secondary means re-using identifiable information and identifiable biospecimens that are collected from some other “primary” or “initial” activity; in other words, not for the purpose of the specific proposed study.

“For which consent is not required” is not defined in the Common Rule or its Preamble. In the absence of federal guidance, HSD’s interpretation is the same as the SACHRP federal advisory body. It means: (1) there are no federal or state laws that require subject consent for the proposed secondary use; and (2) during the original collection of the information or biospecimens, the individuals (if asked) agreed to secondary uses that were described in a manner consistent with the proposed research.

Publicly available is described as applying to secondary research use of (for example) archives in a public library, government or other institutional records where public access is provided on request, or from a commercial entity if the information is provided to members of the public on request or if the only requirement for obtaining the information is paying a user fee or registering or signing in as a visitor to an archive. It also applies if a commercial entity makes identifiable biospecimens available to anyone on request for a fee.

  • HSD generally interprets the use of publicly available identifiable information or specimens as being not human subjects because the public availability seems inconsistent with considering the information or specimen to be private. Private is defined by the Common Rule as being (1) information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and (2) information/biospecimens that have been provided for specific purposes by an individual where the individual can reasonably expect they will not be made public.

Use of identifiable health information means use of personal or protected health information (PHI) that is covered by the HIPAA regulations. This means that (1) the subjects must have provided HIPAA authorization for future, secondary research uses of PHI, or that (2) an IRB or HIPAA Privacy Board granted a waiver of the HIPAA authorization requirement. This part of the exempt category cannot be used for PHI from anywhere where there are state laws requiring consent (as distinct from authorization) or an IRB-granted waiver of consent.

  • The PHI provision of exempt category 4 does not apply to research involving data or specimen sharing, even if the shared data are specimens are de-identified. The Common Rule states that this application of exempt category 4 is valid only for PHI collection and analysis “involving the investigator’s use of identifiable health information” (45 CFR 46.104(4)(iii).
    • HSD interprets “the investigator” as meaning the investigator’s research team, not a broader national group of investigators. For example, sending identifiable PHI to a PCORI repository would not be considered exempt.
    • This also means that this exempt category is not appropriate for research that will establish a database of PHI for use by multiple investigators. For example, this category does not apply to the establishment of a departmental database. Such research would be reviewed by the expedited process.
    • If the researcher’s application is not clear about data/specimen sharing but it mentions a database or repository, ask the PI to clarify.
  • Researcher’s obtaining consent may still qualify for the PHI provision of exempt category 4, as long as the consent is not being obtained because of a state or federal law.
  • The proposed data security protections should be appropriate for the sensitivity or risk associated with the specific PHI being accessed and used, so that the research may appropriately be considered minimal risk.
  • Combination with other exempt categories. This category can be combined with other categories, but the PHI must be secondary use. In generally, this means that the PHI is already being collected as part of routine clinical care – it does not refer to PHI that is generated specifically because of the study.

An example of research that qualifies for this category would be if a graduate student has access to identifiable data from a study previously conducted by a faculty advisor, and they record the information they need in a way so that the data being analyzed for the research cannot be traced back to the individual subjects.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 5 – Research and demonstration projects that are conducted or supported by a federal department or agency, or otherwise subject to the approval of department of agency heads (or the approval of the heads of bureaus or other subordinate agencies that have been delegated authority to conduct the research and demonstration projects), and that are designed to study, evaluate, improve, or otherwise examine public benefit or service programs, including procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs, possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures, or possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs.

As described in federal guidance, all of the following criteria must be satisfied:

  • The program under study delivers a public benefit or service
  • The project must be conducted pursuant to specific federal statutory authority
  • There must be no statutory requirement that the project be reviewed by an IRB
  • The project does not involve significant physical invasions or intrusions upon the privacy of participants
  • The funding agency concurs with the exemption

Minimal risk is not a requirement for this exempt category.

Additional Guidance

Requirement for the federal department or agency conducting or supporting the project. The federal department or agency conducting or supporting the project must establish, on a publicly accessible federal Web site or in such other manner as the department of agency head may determine, a list of the research and demonstration projects the federal department or agency conducts or supports under this exempt category. The department or agency head can determine what sort of information will be included on this list and maintains its oversight. The project must be published on the list before the researcher can begin the project; however, exempt status can be granted before the publication occurs. Review the OHRP guidance for more information.

Examples of public service or benefit programs per federal guidance: (1) programs that provide financial or medical benefits under the Social Security Act; (2) social supportive or nutrition services as provided un the Older Americans Act.

Specific federal statutory authority means there is a federal law requiring the research or demonstration project to be conducted.

Concurrence of federal agency. A member of HSD Leadership will contact the funding agency on behalf of HSD for this purpose.

Example of research in this category. The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charged by Congress with providing periodic reports about the effectiveness of a federal housing subsidy program, as indicated by perceptions of individuals about the procedures and time required to qualify for the program. HUD contracts with a UW researcher to collect data for this project.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 6 – Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies if: (1) wholesome foods without additives are consumed, or (2) a food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental containment at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture.

Additional Guidance

FDA-regulated research. While FDA regulations (21 CFR 56) allow the use of exempt category 6, FDA-exempt research must still comply with FDA regulations (21 CFR 50) about obtaining consent. Due to this challenging combination of regulations, it is HSD policy to not grant exempt status to FDA-regulated research. Review the worksheet, Human Subjects Research Determination to determine whether the activity is human subjects research as defined by the FDA.

Definition of food. Research involving the consumption of alcohol, vitamins, and nutritional supplements does not qualify for exempt status because these items are not considered “foods”.

Acceptable sources of food. Foods may be obtained from: (1) a public retail facility that has a valid permit/inspection from the applicable health department (such as a restaurant or grocery store), or (2) a licensed commercial kitchen if they are used without manipulation. Foods not meeting this description are evaluated for this exempt category on a case-by-case basis.

Unacceptable risk. The research may not involve the consumption of any type of food, or volume of food, that involves the risk physical harm (significant indigestion; serious allergic reaction; vitamin or other nutrient deficiency). The research must involve what would be considered reasonable eating behaviors.

Examples that qualify for this category:

  • A taste test on different varieties of a fruit to determine consumer preference, when the fruits do not have additives and subjects are asked to indicate which fruit they prefer
  • A study that involves taste testing of various beef products from cattle that have been given feed with a chemical additive if the investigator can document that the amount of the additive was at or below the levels approved by the USDA.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 7 – Storage or maintenance for secondary research for which broad consent is required.
Storage or maintenance of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens for potential secondary research use if an IRB conducts a limited IRB review and makes a specific set of determinations (review “IRB Determinations for Broad Consent”, below).

HSD does not currently grant exempt status for category 7 due to lack of federal guidance and the burdensome nature of the tracking requirements. HSD will continue to support study teams seeking to collect and store identifiable private information or biospecimens for future secondary research through: (1) study-specific consent and IRB review; (2) IRB waiver of consent (if eligible) and IRB review; (3) exempt category 4 (secondary research for which consent is not required); (4) de-identification of the information or biospecimens and a determination by HSD that the use does not meet the definition of human subjects and therefore does not require consent or IRB review. The category 7 description is provided here for informational purposes.

IRB Determinations for Broad Consent

Note that broad consent requires recording and tracking of: (1) who has agreed to or refused the broad consent; and (2) the terms of the broad consent to determine whether proposed future secondary research use falls within the scope of the identified types of research and circumstances of the use.

  1. Broad consent for storage, maintenance, and secondary research use of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens is obtained in accordance with the following requirements:
    • Broad consent is obtained from the subject or the subject’s legally authorized representative (LAR)
    • Circumstances provide the prospective subject/LAR sufficient opportunity to discuss and consider whether or not to participate and that minimize the possibility of coercion or undue influence.
    • The information given to the subject/LAR is in language understandable to the subject/LAR
    • The prospective subject/LAR is provided with the information that a reasonable person would want to have in order to make an informed decision about whether to participate, and an opportunity to discuss that information
    • The consent does not include any exculpatory language through which the subject/LAR is made to waive or appear to waive any of the subject’s legal rights, or releases or appears to release the investigator, the sponsor, the institution or its agents from liability for negligence
    • The following information will be provided to the subject/LAR:
      • A description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subject.
      • A description of any benefits to the subject or to others that may reasonably be expected from the research
      • A statement describing the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of records identifying the subject will be maintained.
      • A statement that participation is voluntary, refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled, and the subject may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled.
      • (If appropriate) A statement that the subject’s biospecimens (even if identifiers are removed) may be used for commercial profit and whether the subject will or will not share in this commercial profit.
      • (If appropriate) For research involving biospecimens, whether the research will (if known) or might include whole genome sequencing (i.e., sequencing of a human germline or somatic specimen with the intent to generate the genome or exome sequence of that specimen).
      • A general description of the types of research that may be conducted with the identifiable private information or biospecimens. This must include sufficient information such that a reasonable person would expect that the broad consent would permit the types of research conducted.
      • A description of the identifiable private information or biospecimens that might be used in research whether sharing of identifiable private information or biospecimens might occur, and the types of institutions or researchers that might conduct research with the identifiable private information or biospecimens.
      • A description of the period of time that the identifiable private information or biospecimens may be stored and maintained (which period of time could be indefinite), and a description of the period of time that the identifiable private information or biospecimens may be used for research (which period of time could be indefinite).
      • Unless the subject/LAR will be provided details about specific research studies, a statement that they will not be informed of the details of any specific research studies that might be conducted using the subject’s private identifiable information or biospecimens, including the purposes of the research, and that they might have chosen not to consent to some of those specific research studies.
      • Unless it is known that clinically relevant research results, including individual research results will be disclosed to the subject in all circumstances, a statement that such results may not be disclosed to the subject.
      • An explanation of whom to contact for answers to questions about the subjects’ rights and about storage and use of the subject’s private identifiable information or biospecimens, and whom to contact in the event of a research-related harm.
  2. Broad consent is appropriately documented, or waiver of documentation is appropriate.
  3. If there is a change made for research purposes in the way the identifiable private information or biospecimens are stored or maintained, there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of data.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 8 – Secondary research for which broad consent is required.
Research involving the use of identifiable private information or biospecimens for secondary research, if a particular set of criteria are met (review “List of Category 8 Criteria”, below).

HSD does not currently grant exempt status for category 8 due to lack of federal guidance and the burdensome nature of the tracking requirements. HSD will continue to support study teams seeking to collect and store identifiable private information or biospecimens for future secondary research through: (1) study-specific consent and IRB review; (2) IRB waiver of consent (if eligible) and IRB review; (3) exempt category 4 (secondary research for which consent is not required); (4) de-identification of the information or biospecimens and a determination by HSD that the use does not meet the definition of human subjects and therefore does not require consent or IRB review. The category 8 description is provided here for informational purposes.

List of Category 8 Criteria

  1. Broad consent for the storage, maintenance, and secondary research use of the identifiable private information or biospecimens was obtained in accordance with all of the requirements described for exempt category 7.
  2. Documentation of informed consent or waiver of documentation of consent was obtained
  3. An IRB conducts a limited IRB review and makes the following determinations:
    • When appropriate, there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of the data
    • The research to be conducted is within the scope of the broad consent provided by the subjects
  4. The investigator does not include returning individual research results to subjects as part of the study plan. Note, this provision does not prevent an investigator from abiding by any legal requirements to return individual research results.

EXEMPT CATEGORY 101 – Non-federally-supported research in which:

  • Subjects are cognitively competent adults and
  • Research procedures consist solely of benign interventions, interactions, or observations of behavior and
  • No biological specimens are being collected and
  • The physical assessment of subject’s physical characteristics is limited to standard anthropometrics and vital signs and
  • The information obtained is recorded in such a manner that the human subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects or if subjects can be identified, any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research could not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, educational advancement, or reputation.

Research involving children does not qualify for this exempt category.

Additional Guidance

Anthropometrics means dimensional descriptors of body size, shape, and dimensions collected by methods that do not involve the application of energy to the subject or placing the subject into a machine. Examples of acceptable anthropometrics include (but are not limited to): height, weight, shoe size, body composition using calipers, but not bioimpedance or water tank), limb length.

Benign means painless; not physically invasive; not likely to have significant adverse lasting impact on the subjects; involves no sedation, local anesthesia, or the use of noxious chemicals; and the researcher has no reason to think that the subjects will find the assessments to be offensive or highly embarrassing.

Cognitively competent means there is nothing inherent in the setting, study circumstances, or subject population that would suggest that subjects are unable to comprehend their circumstances and setting.

Vital signs means standard non-invasive measurements of the body’s essential functions that are commonly monitored by medical professionals and health care providers. For the purposes of determining exempt status, they include: (1) body temperature (except when measured rectally or by a glass thermometer containing mercury); (2) pulse rate; (3) respiration rate; (4) blood pressure; (5) oxygen saturation (e.g., finger clip oximetry). HSD Leadership will consider requests for inclusion of other measurements.

Federal support or regulation. If the research is determined to qualify for this exempt category and it later becomes federally supported or regulated by an agency that signed the Common Rule, the research must immediately cease research activities until IRB approval is obtained.

 

Procedures – Limited IRB Review

Limited IRB Review (LIRB) is a type of IRB review that is required for granting exempt status, in some circumstances, for exempt categories 2 and 3 (also categories 7 & 8 which the UW does not use).

  • HSD staff identify the need for LIRB approval during review of the application materials.
  • It is focused on only one criterion for IRB approval: that there are appropriate protections for subject confidentiality and privacy.
  • It must be conducted by a qualified IRB member who is authorized to conduct expedited IRB review.
  • It is subject to IRB records requirements.
  • LIRB approval is granted simultaneously with exempt status. There is no expiration date for LIRB approval and no further IRB responsibilities.

LIRB is not allowed for research that is subject to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Justice (DoJ).

Procedures – Modifications

Consider the impact of a research modification before implementing it. Researchers commonly make modifications to their research during the course of a study. Changes to the research may invalidate the exempt determination because the research no longer meets the exempt criteria described in this guidance.

Some changes always require HSD to review a modification and make re-determination of exempt status. Many other changes do not.

Changes that always require an HSD re-determination of exempt status

  • New types of subjects, data, or specimens. For example, adding: children, patients with a different disease, records (e.g., student records, medical records) when previously those records were not used, changes in the scope of questionnaires, surveys, interviews, focus groups.
  • New types of procedures, when it means that the research methods no longer fit into the same exempt category.
  • Obtaining federal funding or other support from the Department of Justice or for research that previously had no federal support and that qualified for exempt status in Category 101.
  • Obtaining or recording identifiable data or specimens for studies that previously obtained only de-identified or anonymous data or specimens. Identifiable data may require adding a limited IRB review.
  • Increased risk due to any change. For example, adding questions to a survey when the answers to the new questions increases the risk of damage to a subject’s employability or reputation.
  • Decreased data security measures. For example, changing from level 3 to level 2 as described in the guidance, Data Security Protections.
  • New intent to submit the research data to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Changes that do not require an HSD re-determination of exempt status

  • Adding similar survey or interview questions that do not increase risk. Questions must be similar in scope, content, and sensitivity level to what is already described in the IRB Protocol.
  • Revising an intervention (defined in category 3) to something similar that does not increase risk. The new intervention must be comparable in nature, duration, and potential for harm, embarrassment, or discomfort as was already described in the IRB Protocol.
  • Switching the method of data collection to another method within the same category for example, from a focus group to an individual interview or an interview to a survey on the same topics.
  • Increasing data security protections for a study with limited IRB review. No additional limited IRB review is required when a more protective safeguard is put in place.
  • Adding a subject population that is similar to what is already approved. For example, it would not require a modification to add interviews with surgeons, generally when the application describes interviewing neurosurgeons or to add UW graduate students when the application describes UW undergraduates.
  • Making changes to: number of subjects, payment, consent and recruitment materials or methods, survey platform being used, or study instruments so long as the changes don’t fall into one of the categories that require a re-determination, as listed above.
  • Updating the study team in Zipline unless the changes are needed to grant access to the Zipline application.

 

For all other changes, researchers should assess the proposed changes against the exemption criteria described in this guidance. If you are unsure whether a modification is needed, consult with your HSD staff team before submitting a modification in Zipline.

Requesting HSD assessment of a planned modification. Create a modification in Zipline, describe the changes, submit the modification and HSD staff will make a re-determination.

Transitioning exempt applications from the Original Common Rule (OCR) to the Revised Common Rule (RCR) at the time of modification.

  • If a modification would not change the exempt status of an application that was originally determined to be exempt under the OCR it should remain regulated by the OCR with approval of the modification.
  • If a modification would mean the application is no longer exempt under the OCR but would be exempt under the RCR, it should be transitioned. In Zipline, applications can only be transitioned at the time of continuing review. For exempt applications that must transition from the OCR to RCR at the time of a modification, the reviewer will instruct the investigator to: (1) discard the modification, (2) copy the submission, (3) make updates necessary to include the changes described in the modification, and (4) submit as a new application so that a new exempt determination can be made under the RCR.

Procedures – Researcher Responsibilities

Researchers remain responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of their research participants by conducting research in accordance with:

  • The ethical principles of Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice as described in the Belmont Report
  • Other applicable federal and state laws
  • UW and HSD policies
  • Relevant professional standards and codes of conduct as generally accepted in the researcher’s academic and/or professional discipline

Information for subjects. HSD does not apply the Common Rule or FDA consent regulations to exempt research. Additionally, HSD does not review and approve consent plans or consent materials for exempt research. Nevertheless, researchers are still responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of subjects in their research. Consistent with the Belmont principle of Respect for Persons, HSD generally expects that researchers will provide subjects, and their parents as appropriate, with information about the research prior to their agreement to participate when the research involves interacting with subjects (in person, through email, a website, social media, etc.). Researchers may choose to include all of the elements of consent described in the worksheet, Consent Requirements and Waivers, however many of the elements may not be applicable or appropriate given the nature of the research.
When information is given to subjects in exempt research, HSD expects that it will include the following:

  • A statement that the activity is research and that participation is voluntary
  • The opportunity for subjects to choose whether to participate in research
  • A brief description of the primary study procedure(s) – e.g., answering questions
  • When the research involves deception, a statement that the subject will be unaware of or misled regarding the nature or purposes of the research
  • The lead researcher’s name, affiliation, and contact information
  • Contact information for HSD, in case of questions or concerns
  • Informing parents in advance that their children will be participating in research. Note that this may not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for doing research on minors in school settings, as described in the Pupil Privacy Rights Amendment, which may include the need to obtain “opt in” parental permission.

HSD has developed an optional template (Consent Template, Exempt Research), tailored to exempt research, which includes these elements. HSD strongly encourages researchers to provide information in a concise and focused manner and using a method that is tailored to the research context and expectations of the subject population. Researchers may also wish to reference the exempt-specific Consent Example, Exempt Research.

Reporting. Researchers must use the RNI submission process to report any confidentiality breaches or data security issues to HSD and appropriate department officials.

Records retention. HSD retains exempt-related materials for only 6 years from the exempt determination or a modification assessment. Researchers are responsible for keeping the exempt application and determination until the research is complete and the state records retention period is over.

Related Materials

APPLICATION IRB Protocol
EXAMPLE Consent, Exempt Research
GLOSSARY Minimal Risk
GUIDANCE Authority and Responsibilities of HSD and UW IRB
GUIDANCE Data Security Protections
Researcher Submission Guide – Study Modifications
Researcher Submission Guide – Submitting New Studies
SOP Pre-Review
TEMPLATE Consent, Exempt Research
WEBPAGE Is Your Human Subjects Research Exempt from the Regulations?
WEBPAGE Report Events and New Information
WORKSHEET Consent Requirements and Waivers
WORKSHEET Human Subjects Research Determination

Regulatory References

Version Information

Open the accordion below for version changes to this guidance.

Version History

Version Number Posted Date Implementation Date Change Notes
3.2 03.24.2024 03.24.2024 Remove note that there are additional requirements for exempt research subject to DoD regulations
3.1 07.27.2023 07.27.2023 Retire SOP Limited IRB Review and move content to this guidance; add examples of changes that don’t require a modification to an exempt application
3.0 04.28.2022 04.28.2022 Add description of exclusions and exempt categories; other minor updates throughout; transfer content from Word to web page
2.5 05.27.2021 05.27.2021 Remove references to paper process
2.4 02.25.2021 02.25.2021 Minor addition of information about limited IRB review
Previous verisons For older versions: HSD staff see the SharePoint Document Library; Others – contact hsdinfo@uw.edu.

Keywords: Exemption; IRB review