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Peer Review Policy

EDITORIAL POLICY DOUBLE-BLIND REVIEW

Peer Review Process

ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine (ICMEJLM) • Quality Assurance & Publication Ethics

The ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine (ICMEJLM) follows a rigorous, fair, confidential, and transparent peer-review process to ensure the scientific quality, originality, ethical integrity, and clinical relevance of all manuscripts considered for publication.

The journal applies a double-blind peer-review system, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the review process. This approach is intended to reduce bias and support an impartial evaluation of submitted manuscripts.

Key Review Workflow

1. Initial Editorial Screening

Preliminary check for scope, originality, plagiarism, formatting, ethical compliance, and overall scientific quality prior to external peer review.

2. Independent Peer Assessment

Manuscripts passing initial screening are evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts with no conflicts of interest.

3. Revision & Re-Evaluation

Authors respond to reviewer feedback point-by-point. Revised manuscripts are re-assessed by handling editors or original reviewers.

4. Final Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final determination (Accept, Revise, or Reject) based on reviewer recommendations and overall scientific rigor.

Initial Editorial Screening Criteria

During the initial evaluation, the editorial office verifies the following parameters:

✓ Relevance to the journal’s aims and scope.
✓ Originality and academic significance of the study.
✓ Scientific and methodological quality.
✓ Compliance with author guidelines and language quality.
✓ Ethical approval, patient consent, and research integrity.
✓ Screening for plagiarism or inappropriate text similarity.
✓ Completeness of required supplementary files and disclosures.

Reviewer Selection & Evaluation Criteria

Reviewer Selection Principles
  • Academic and professional subject-matter expertise
  • Demonstrated experience in laboratory medicine
  • Absence of personal, financial, or academic conflicts of interest
  • Track record of timely, objective, and constructive evaluations
Key Evaluation Dimensions
  • Originality, design clarity, and diagnostic relevance
  • Accuracy and reliability of laboratory methodologies
  • Validity of statistical analyses, results, and conclusions
  • Adherence to clinical reporting and ethical standards

Editorial Decisions

Following peer review, the handling editor renders one of the following decisions:

Accept Without Revision
Minor Revisions
Major Revisions
Request Additional Review
Reject Manuscript

Responsibilities & Confidentiality

Reviewer Responsibilities
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all manuscript data
  • Provide evidence-based, constructive, and timely feedback
  • Declare any potential or actual conflicts of interest promptly
  • Report suspected misconduct, data fabrication, or plagiarism
Author Responsibilities
  • Submit original, accurate work; avoid simultaneous submissions
  • Provide point-by-point professional responses to comments
  • Disclose all relevant financial and intellectual conflicts
  • Supply raw data or supporting documentation upon request

Appeals, Misconduct & Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently without influence from commercial interests or author background. Authors may submit a formal, written appeal in cases of factual misunderstanding or procedural error. Suspected publication misconduct is thoroughly investigated according to international COPE guidelines.

Review Policy Summary
Review Format Double-Blind
External Reviewers Min. 2 Experts
Decision Authority Editor-in-Chief
Plagiarism Check Mandatory
Recognition Certificates Provided
Submit Paper Online Author Guidelines
Adhering strictly to COPE & ICMJE ethical guidelines for peer review.