Retraction Policy

P-ISSN: 3117-8065 | E-ISSN: 3117-8073

Retraction Policy & Scientific Record Safeguards

The ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine is committed to protecting the integrity, accuracy, transparency, and reliability of the published scholarly record in laboratory medicine and diagnostic pathology. When reliable evidence indicates that the findings or publication history of an article are seriously compromised by substantial error, unreliable data, research misconduct, or a significant ethical breach, ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine may issue a formal retraction.

Retraction is primarily intended to identify unreliable literature and inform readers rather than to punish authors. ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine manages retraction decisions in accordance with relevant COPE Retraction Guidelines and Core Practices, applicable journal procedures, relevant scholarly publishing standards, and the transparency principles reflected in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) criteria.

Core Objectives of Article Retraction

Retractions are published transparently to correct the scholarly record and reduce the risk of continued reliance on unreliable findings. Their principal objectives include:

Correct and clarify the scholarly record

Protect trust in laboratory medicine research

Alert researchers & pathologists to unreliable data

Support transparent and accountable editorial action

Circumstances That May Warrant Retraction

Retraction may be considered when an editorial or institutional investigation establishes that one or more of the following circumstances have materially compromised the reliability, integrity, or ethical legitimacy of the article:

Laboratory data fabrication or falsification

Major analytical, calculation, or reporting errors

Plagiarism or unauthorized redundant publication

Compromised or manipulated peer review

Inappropriate slide, image, or assay data manipulation

Serious human or animal research ethics violations

Serious undisclosed competing interests

Paper-mill activity or fraudulent authorship

Fabricated or materially unreliable AI-generated content

COPE-Informed Investigation Procedure

Receipt and preliminary assessment of a concern raised by a reader, author, reviewer, editor, institution, complainant, or screening system.

Communication with the corresponding author and other relevant parties requesting explanation, raw lab data, ethics documentation, or supporting records.

Assessment by an uninvolved editor, independent subject expert, research-integrity adviser, or ad hoc editorial panel where appropriate.

Referral to an institution, funder, ethics body, or research-integrity office when the matter requires investigation beyond the journal's authority.

Author-Initiated & Editor-Initiated Retractions

Author-Initiated Retraction: Authors who identify a substantial post-publication error that makes the findings unreliable should contact the journal promptly and provide a clear explanation and relevant supporting information. Responsible self-reporting will be described accurately in the retraction notice.

Retraction Without Author Agreement: The journal will normally invite the authors to respond before reaching a decision. However, author agreement is not required when available evidence supports retraction. If authors do not respond or disagree, ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine may proceed and record circumstances accurately in the notice.

Technical Execution & Record Preservation Standard

Expression of Concern An Expression of Concern may be published when credible concerns require readers to be alerted, but evidence remains inconclusive or an institutional response is pending.

Linked Retraction Notice A formal retraction notice will identify the affected article, explain the reason for retraction, and be linked to the article landing page, updating relevant metadata.

Continued Article Access A retracted article will normally remain accessible as part of the scholarly record and will be clearly marked as retracted. Content removal occurs only under exceptional legal or safety circumstances.

Policy Alignment & Periodic Review

The ICME Journal of Laboratory Medicine manages retractions and related post-publication notices using procedures informed by COPE Retraction Guidelines and Core Practices. This policy is reviewed periodically to reflect evolving publishing standards and DOAJ transparency principles.

Research Integrity Commitment: Retraction decisions are made to protect the accuracy, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. The Editor-in-Chief retains responsibility for the final editorial decision after appropriate assessment, consultation, and consideration of available evidence.