In What Scenarios Must Information Protected by a Certificate of Confidentiality Be Disclosed?

There are limited circumstances when an investigator and institution are permitted to release a participant’s identifiable sensitive information that is protected by a Certificate of Confidentiality. In fact, disclosure of identifiable, sensitive information, such as the participants name, must be done when such disclosure is required by other applicable Federal, State, or local laws, such as for public health reporting of communicable diseases, or child abuse or elder abuse reporting, even when the information is protected by a Certificate of Confidentiality.

See the NIH Certificates of Confidentiality website for additional information.