Overview

The International Journal of Clinical Virology (IJCV) is firmly committed to ethical publishing. This policy outlines the responsibilities and procedural safeguards followed by authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to promote integrity, transparency, and fairness. It draws upon international standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ICMJE, DOAJ, and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

Core Ethical Commitments

Promote the publication of accurate, verifiable, and reproducible research.
Ensure fairness, confidentiality, and impartiality in editorial decisions.
Prevent fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or redundant publication.
Protect research participants and uphold data privacy standards (GDPR compliance).
Provide transparent correction and retraction mechanisms.

Author Responsibilities

Submit only original, unpublished work that accurately reflects findings.
Cite all sources and obtain permission for reused material (tables, figures, or datasets).
Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources.
Identify all co-authors who made significant intellectual contributions.
Promptly report errors or inaccuracies after publication.

Editorial Responsibilities

Maintain independence and fairness in manuscript evaluation.
Base decisions solely on scholarly merit and relevance to journal scope.
Ensure double-blind peer review integrity and confidentiality.
Address allegations of misconduct according to COPE flowcharts.
Publish corrections or retractions transparently when necessary.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Provide timely, objective, and confidential reviews.
Avoid personal bias and declare any conflicts of interest.
Report suspected ethical issues, plagiarism, or data manipulation.
Respect confidentiality—reviewers must not share or cite manuscripts.

Publisher Responsibilities

Support editorial independence and uphold ethical publishing standards.
Implement robust archiving and DOI registration mechanisms.
Ensure that unethical behavior, once identified, is investigated and rectified promptly.

Ethical Issues and Misconduct Handling

IJCV applies a structured and impartial process to handle ethical concerns. All cases—such as plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication, or authorship disputes—are evaluated confidentially and guided by COPE flowcharts. Outcomes include correction, retraction, or notification to institutions as appropriate.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors must ensure data accuracy and retain primary research records for a minimum of five years after publication. Editors may request access for verification. IJCV encourages data sharing through repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Dryad) in line with FAIR principles.

Human and Animal Ethics

Research involving humans must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki, and studies involving animals must adhere to institutional animal care guidelines and international laws. Authors must provide ethics approval reference numbers and informed consent statements in manuscripts.

Conflict of Interest

All parties involved must declare any financial or personal relationships that could influence outcomes. The journal publishes all conflict disclosures alongside the article to maintain transparency.

Plagiarism Detection and Prevention

All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection tools (iThenticate / Turnitin). Overlaps above 15 % are reviewed manually to determine context. Proven cases result in rejection or retraction and notification of relevant institutions.

Peer Review Ethics

IJCV employs a double-blind review to eliminate bias. Reviewers evaluate scientific rigor, originality, and ethical compliance. Reviewer identities remain confidential, and manuscripts are not shared or reused without permission.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Errors identified post-publication are addressed transparently:

Correction: For minor factual inaccuracies.
Retraction: For serious ethical or data integrity issues.
Expression of Concern: For unresolved or pending investigations.

Each notice links to the original article to preserve the scholarly record.

Duplicate Submission and Redundant Publication

Manuscripts must not be under consideration elsewhere or substantially overlap with previously published work. Duplicate publication violates COPE and ICMJE ethics and may lead to permanent removal from the journal database.

Authorship and Acknowledgments

Authorship is restricted to individuals who contributed substantially to study design, analysis, and manuscript writing. All contributors must approve the final version and accept accountability for the content. Others providing support should be listed under acknowledgments.

Post-Publication Review and Corrections

Readers are encouraged to report potential errors or misconduct after publication. Legitimate concerns are reviewed following COPE guidelines, and corrective actions are taken accordingly.

Transparency in Funding and Sponsorship

Authors must clearly state all funding sources and specify any role sponsors played in study design or decision-making. Editorial independence is preserved irrespective of sponsorship agreements.

Advertising and Commercial Independence

IJCV does not permit advertisements or sponsored content to influence editorial judgment. All advertising is clearly identified and separated from research content.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a reasoned statement within 30 days. Appeals are reviewed by an independent editor or ethics panel not involved in the original decision. Complaints from readers or reviewers are investigated promptly and confidentially.

Ethical Oversight in Special Issues

Guest editors must adhere to the same ethical and peer review standards as the regular editorial board. All invited or sponsored articles undergo independent peer review before acceptance.

Ethics Policy Sources

Contact and Reporting Misconduct

Editorial Office – International Journal of Clinical Virology (IJCV)
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.clinvirologyjournal.com/

Report Ethical Concern

Publication Ethics Policy