Publication Ethics Statement

Introduction

The International Journal of Clinical Virology (IJCV) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The following statement outlines the ethical principles governing editorial conduct, author responsibilities, peer review practices, and publisher accountability. IJCV strictly adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

Ethical Principles

IJCV’s ethical framework is built upon four fundamental values:

• Integrity: All research must be conducted and reported with honesty and transparency.
• Accountability: Authors, editors, and reviewers share responsibility for maintaining ethical standards.
• Objectivity: Editorial and peer review decisions are based on scientific merit, not personal or institutional bias.
• Transparency: Conflicts of interest, funding sources, and ethical approvals must be disclosed in all publications.

Responsibilities of Authors

• Ensure that all submitted work is original and properly cited.
• Provide accurate data and avoid fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of results.
• Obtain informed consent for studies involving humans and approval from ethical review boards for animal experiments.
• Disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.
• Confirm that all listed co-authors made significant contributions and approved the final manuscript.

“Authorship implies responsibility and accountability for published content.” — ICMJE

Responsibilities of Editors

• Ensure a fair and unbiased peer review process.
• Protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
• Refrain from using unpublished material for personal research purposes.
• Act upon all allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism and data falsification.
• Publish corrections, retractions, or clarifications as necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Provide objective, evidence-based, and timely evaluations of assigned manuscripts.
• Maintain confidentiality and avoid unauthorized sharing of manuscript content.
• Declare conflicts of interest that might affect impartiality.
• Identify ethical concerns, plagiarism, or data irregularities in reviewed papers.

Publisher Responsibilities

• Support editorial independence and uphold ethical publishing principles.
• Ensure digital preservation, DOI registration, and open access compliance.
• Implement policies consistent with COPE and ICMJE recommendations.
• Respond promptly to ethical concerns raised by readers or institutions.

Research Integrity and Misconduct

IJCV defines research misconduct as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical experimentation, or manipulation of authorship. Allegations are investigated confidentially and fairly according to COPE flowcharts. Confirmed cases may result in rejection, retraction, or notification to relevant authorities.

Ethical Approval and Consent

Authors must provide details of ethics approval and informed consent for all studies involving human participants, clinical trials, or identifiable patient data. Studies involving animals must adhere to institutional and international standards for animal care and use.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

All contributors must declare any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence interpretation of results. The journal publishes conflict of interest statements transparently alongside articles to ensure accountability.

Data Integrity and Availability

Authors are expected to retain and, upon reasonable request, provide access to raw data for verification purposes. IJCV encourages deposition of datasets in recognized repositories following the FAIR principles—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

Peer Review Integrity

All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review. Editors ensure impartiality and confidentiality throughout the process. Reviewers are selected based on subject expertise and ethical reliability. Manipulation of the review process or reviewer identity constitutes misconduct.

Corrections and Retractions

IJCV follows COPE Retraction Guidelines to maintain an accurate scholarly record. Corrections are issued for minor errors, while retractions or expressions of concern are published in cases of confirmed misconduct or fundamental inaccuracies.

Advertising and Independence

Advertisements, sponsorships, or commercial partnerships do not influence editorial decisions. All promotional content is clearly separated from editorial material.

Handling of Complaints and Appeals

Complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days. Each case is reviewed impartially to ensure fair resolution and compliance with COPE procedures.

Duplicate Publication and Redundant Submission

Authors must confirm that their manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. Duplicate or redundant publication is considered unethical and results in immediate rejection or retraction.

Human and Animal Welfare

All research involving humans or animals must be conducted ethically and in accordance with recognized international guidelines, such as the Declaration of Helsinki and ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) standards.

Transparency in Funding

Authors must clearly acknowledge all sources of financial support and disclose any role of sponsors in study design, data collection, or decision to publish. Failure to disclose funding sources may lead to manuscript rejection or correction after publication.

Post-Publication Responsibilities

Editors and publishers maintain ongoing vigilance after publication. If significant errors, ethical concerns, or data inaccuracies are identified, corrective action is taken promptly, following COPE recommendations.

Ethical Framework References

• COPE Core Practices
• ICMJE Recommendations for Authors and Editors
• WAME Policy Statements
• DOAJ Best Practice Guidelines

Contact Information

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

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