Virginia Law

Research activities in which the only involvement of human subjects is in one or more of the following categories are exempt from this chapter:

1. The surveillance and investigation by the department into all preventable diseases and epidemics in the Commonwealth and into the means for the prevention of such diseases and epidemics conducted pursuant to § 32.1-39 of the Code of Virginia.

2. Research designed to study on a large scale anonymous vital records and registry data collected pursuant to the Code of Virginia, Chapter 7 (§ 32.1-249 et seq.) of Title 32.1 (Vital Records), § 32.1-64.1 (Virginia Hearing Impairment Identification and Monitoring System), § 32.1-69.1 (Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System), § 32.1-70 (Statewide Cancer Registry), § 32.1-46.01 (Virginia Immunization Information System), and § 32.116.1 (Emergency Medical Services Patient Care Information System).

3. Research or student learning outcomes assessment conducted in educational settings such as research involving:

a. Regular or special education instructional strategies;

b. The effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods; or

c. The use of educational tests, whether cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, or achievement, if the data from such tests are recorded in a manner so that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.

4. Research involving survey or interview procedures unless responses are recorded in such a manner that the subjects can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, and either:

a. The subject's responses, if they became known outside the research, could reasonably place the participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to his financial standing, employability, or reputation; or

b. The research deals with sensitive aspects of the subject's own behavior such as sexual behavior, drug or alcohol use, or illegal conduct.

5. Research involving survey or interview procedures, when the respondents are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office.

6. Research involving solely the observation of public behavior, including observation by participants, unless observations are recorded in such a manner that the subjects can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, and either:

a. The observations recorded about the subject, if they became known outside the research, could reasonably place the subject at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to his financial standing, employability, or reputation; or

b. The research deals with sensitive aspects of the subject's own behavior, such as sexual behavior, drug or alcohol use, or illegal conduct.

7. Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, or pathological specimens, if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded by the investigator in a manner so that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.