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How to Abstract Eligibility Criteria

  1. Search for the trial of interest. For instructions, refer to Searching for Trials in PA.

  2. In the search results, click the NCI Trial Identifier link for that trial. The Trial Identification page appears.

  3. On the Trial Identification page, check out the trial. For instructions, refer to Checking In and Checking Out Trials. (This checkout step is optional for Super Abstractors.)

  4. On the Scientific Data menu, under Interventional Trial Design, click Eligibility Criteria. The Interventional Trial Design – Eligibility Criteria page appears.
    If the trial has been abstracted previously, the Eligibility Criteria section displays the demographic eligibility elements. The Other Criteria section may also display inclusion and/or exclusion criteria that have been added previously (see Adding Other Eligibility Criteria).

  5. In the drop-down lists and text fields, select or enter the appropriate information. The following table describes the fields. All fields are required.

    Field

    Instruction

    Accepts Healthy Volunteers*

    If the trial accepts healthy participants, select Yes. Otherwise, select No.

    Sex*

    Indicate the sex of the individuals who may participate in the clinical trial:

    • Male: Indicates that the trial studies only male participants.
    • Female: Indicates that the trial studies only female participants.
    • All: Indicates that the recruitment criteria do not limit eligibility based on the sex of participants.

    If you select Female or Male in this field, the system allows you to specify a value in the Gender Based field.

    Gender Based
    		If participant eligibility is based on self-representation of gender identity, select Yes. Otherwise, select No. If you select Yes in this field, the optional Gender Eligibility Description field becomes available.
    Gender Eligibility DescriptionEnter any available information about gender eligibility.

    Minimum Age*

    Enter the minimum participant age. If there is no minimum age, type 0 , and select Years from the Unit drop-down list.

    Maximum Age*

    Enter the maximum participant age. If there is no maximum age, type 999 , and select Years from the Unit drop-down list.

    Unit*

    Select the age unit from the drop-down list. Valid values are as follows:

    • Years
    • Months
    • Weeks
    • Days
    • Hours
    • Minutes

    You can expand the Other Criterion table columns to read full criteria descriptions and names

    To increase the size of a description or name cell, click and drag the lower right corner handles.

    Sizing handle at the lower right corner of a table cell
    Original cell size with hidden text

    Expanded table cell
    Expanded cell revealing all text

  6. Click Save.
    The trial is updated with the information you provided, and a new interface appears which enables you to add other criteria. See Adding Other Eligibility Criteria.