What Do I Do About Incidental Findings In Research?

By Julie Ozier, MHL, CIP, CHRC, Senior Vice President for IRB Review

An incidental finding is a “finding” or result from an intervention or test that uncovers a condition or problem that was not originally known and was not part of the expected test-result scheme. Simply put: it is something extra found from a test.

Discovery of these extras can result from a standard, approved clinical test or intervention. They can also be found from a research test or intervention. Each incidental finding has an impact on how research professionals handle the result and what you do with that result.