There are three categories of IRB review: Full Board Review, Expedited Research, and Exempt Research. Depending on the type of research you would like to perform, additional forms may be necessary.
Exempt Review
Research studies that qualify for exempt review involve the use of anonymous existing data or specimens. Anonymous means the study information can never be linked to identifiers. Data that are coded and linked to name, record number, social security number or other identifiers do not qualify for exempt review status.
Expedited Review
Certain types of studies that involve only minimal risk to research participants may qualify for expedited review. Studies that qualify for expedited review involve the use of confidential records, data or specimens, that exist (on the shelf) at the time of IRB approval. Unlike exempt research, research qualifying for expedited review may use some sort of data coding or use unique patient information in their research.
Full Board Review:
Certain projects require full board review, such as: (1) most physiological or medical research; (2) certain research involving vulnerable subject populations (e.g., children, prisoners, pregnant women); and (3) research where identification of the subjects and/or their responses would reasonably place them at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subject’s financial standing, employability, insurability, reputation, or be stigmatizing, and there is a reasonable risk that confidentiality could be violated, or the consequences of a loss of confidentiality would be severe.
Definitions for the review types on this page taken from the IRB Departments at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of California System
