{"id":3036,"date":"2024-01-03T11:02:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T16:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/ohsp\/?page_id=3036"},"modified":"2026-09-09T17:04:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T21:04:59","slug":"watermarked-documents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/ohsp\/click-irb\/watermarked-documents\/","title":{"rendered":"Watermarked Documents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) routinely apply a watermark to consent forms and recruitment materials at the time of IRB approval (including initial approvals, as well as modifications and continuing reviews).<\/p>\n

IRBs typically further require study staff to utilize the current, watermarked version of these documents during the recruitment and informed consent process. In other words, the current, watermarked versions are the only versions of the documents the IRB recognizes as valid (the watermark validates IRB-approval of the document\u2019s contents).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) routinely apply a watermark to consent forms and recruitment materials at the time of IRB approval (including initial approvals, as well as modifications and continuing reviews).…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"parent":316,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-3036","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"Accessing and Utilizing Watermarked Documents","subtitle":"","call_to_action":"","hero_image_placement":"no_image","hero_media":"images","hero_pattern_option":"","hero_video":"","hero_image_landing":"","hero_image_landing_two":"","hero_image_landing_three":"","content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"

What is required?<\/h2>","content":"Requirements related to what documents are watermarked and when study teams are required to use them, will depend on the Reviewing IRB. Generally, it\u2019s safe to assume that if a document is watermarked by the IRB, then the study team is required to utilize the current, watermarked version of that document during study conduct.\r\n\r\nLocally, the IRB watermarks all consent forms and recruitment materials. OHSP Policy 901: Investigator Responsibilities<\/a> requires all investigators to obtain informed consent utilizing the current, watermarked version of the document.\r\n\r\nSimilarly, watermarked versions of recruitment materials should be utilized when appropriate, based on the nature of the materials (reference OHSP Guideline for Recruitment Methods and Materials<\/a>). For example, printed flyers posted in public locations should include the watermark, whereas language approved for a social media post would not need to include the watermark as doing so would not be feasible.\r\n\r\nOHSP Policy 901 Investigator Responsibilities<\/a> further requires study teams to 'maintain documentation to support IRB determinations...' This means that study teams should maintain documentation of all IRB-approved materials, including all<\/em> versions of any<\/em> watermarked documents.\r\n\r\nReference our Study Documentation Requirements page<\/a> for more information.","background_color":"#f4f4f4","width":"width-medium"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"

What does the watermark look like?<\/h2>","content":"The format of an IRB watermark will vary by IRB. The URochester IRB watermark appears in the lower right-hand corner of an approved document and minimally includes the IRB approval date. Based on the type of document, the watermark may also include an expiration date.\r\n