Quick Navigation
Volumes & Issues Quick Submit Call for Paper Editorial Board Search Research
Information
For Readers For Authors For Librarians
Keywords
Laboratory Medicine Clinical Pathology Hematology Clinical Biochemistry Medical Microbiology Molecular Diagnostics Immunopathology Histopathology Transfusion Medicine Laboratory Informatics

Corrections & Retractions Policy

P-ISSN: 3117-8065 | E-ISSN: 3117-8073
Post-Publication Corrections & Retractions Policy

The ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine is committed to preserving the integrity, accuracy, accessibility, and continuity of the scientific record in laboratory medicine and clinical pathology. Post-publication changes may become necessary to correct honest errors, clarify critical laboratory data, address unreliable diagnostic findings, or respond to substantiated concerns involving research or publication misconduct.

This policy is informed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines and Core Practices, relevant NISO terminology concerning journal article versions, and the transparency principles reflected in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) criteria. All post-publication actions are evaluated according to the nature, significance, and effect of the identified issue.

Categories of Article Corrections

A correction notice may be issued when an error affects the accuracy, clarity, attribution, or metadata of an article but does not invalidate its principal findings or conclusions:

Corrigendum: Published to correct a material error originating from the authors (e.g., assay value typo, unit error) that does not invalidate the study's central findings.
Erratum: Issued to correct a material production, formatting, typesetting, or figure presentation error introduced by the journal.
Addendum: Published when essential supplementary data or methodological clarifications are required to improve interpretation.
Material corrections to author names, affiliations, funding details, diagnostic disclosures, or metadata issued when editorially justified.
Grounds for Article Retraction

Retraction may be considered when an article's findings or publication history are substantially unreliable or when serious ethical or publication concerns have been established:

Unreliable findings resulting from lab data fabrication, falsification, improper image manipulation, or major analytical errors.
Plagiarism, unauthorized duplicate publication, redundant publication, or inappropriate reuse of previously published laboratory data.
Manipulation of microscopic slides, pathology images, or gel electrophoresis figures that alters evidence or outcomes.
Serious undisclosed competing interests, invalid ethics documentation, unethical research, or compromised peer review.
Editorial Investigations & Expressions of Concern
Editorial Investigation Process Post-publication concerns are assessed confidentially and impartially following COPE guidance. Authors may be requested to provide original raw laboratory datasets, uncropped image files, ethics approvals, or reagent validations for editorial verification.
Expression of Concern An Expression of Concern may be published when credible concerns require readers to be alerted, but available evidence is inconclusive, an investigation is ongoing, or an institutional response is pending.
Publication of Retraction Notices

Retracted articles normally remain accessible as part of the scholarly record and are clearly identified as retracted on the article page and file views. A separate Retraction Notice explains the reason for the action, links to the affected article, and updates metadata across indexing services.

Content Removal in Exceptional Cases

Removal of published content occurs only under exceptional circumstances, such as binding legal injunctions, privacy violations, or immediate safety risks. Where ethically permitted, the article landing page remains online with a clear removal statement.

Policy Alignment & Periodic Review

The ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine manages corrections, retractions, Expressions of Concern, and content removals in alignment with COPE guidance and DOAJ transparency principles. This policy is reviewed periodically to uphold publishing standards.

Editorial Declaration: ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine may publish corrections, addenda, Expressions of Concern, or retractions when necessary to maintain the integrity of diagnostic science. Decisions are made after rigorous assessment in accordance with COPE guidelines.