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What are Certificates of Confidentiality?

OHRP recommends that a Certificate of Confidentiality be obtained to protect confidentiality of human cell repository specimens and data. The statute prevents the holder of a certificate from DHHS from disclosing the names or identifying information about research subjects in "any federal, State, or local, civil, criminal, administrative legislative or other proceedings." Hence, research tissue, if protected by a certificate of confidentiality, cannot be used in a legal case against the donor.