IRB & ethics submissionsUpdated September 28, 2026

The IRB submission checklist for a data capture plan reviewers actually approve

Many IRB submission delays trace back to the data management section: no blank CRF for reviewers to see, no documented consent workflow, no clear answer on data security or who can access participant data. This checklist covers what an IRB or ethics committee typically asks for on the data capture side, and where Capture already has the answer.

  • Blank eCRF PDF export for reviewers
  • A documented consent workflow
  • Data security & access answers ready

Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned

Blank eCRF · no subject data

Visit by form matrix

FormSCRD1W2W4W8EOS
DemographicsX
Vital signsXXXXXX
LaboratoryXXX
ECGXX

3. Was the ECG performed?

☐ Yes☐ No

If No, complete question 4.

Protocol CAP-001 · v1.0Page 3 of 24

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exportable blank eCRF PDF packet for reviewers

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things most IRBs ask about the data plan: security, access, consent, retention

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credit card required to prepare your packet

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audit trail across consent, CRF and any amendments

What reviewers ask to see

A blank CRF packet reviewers can actually read

Ethics reviewers routinely ask to see the forms a study will use before it starts collecting data. Capture exports a blank eCRF PDF packet built for exactly this: a cover page, a form index, a visit-by-form matrix, and every approved form printed empty.

  • Cover page, form index and visit-by-form matrix in one export
  • Every approved form printed empty, ready to attach to your submission
  • Only approved forms appear, so reviewers see the version that will actually run

Blank eCRF · no subject data

Visit by form matrix

FormSCRD1W2W4W8EOS
DemographicsX
Vital signsXXXXXX
LaboratoryXXX
ECGXX

3. Was the ECG performed?

☐ Yes☐ No

If No, complete question 4.

Protocol CAP-001 · v1.0Page 3 of 24

Before you submit

What most IRBs ask for on the data capture side

A data management plan

Describe how data is captured, stored, and who can access it. Capture provides one platform with a documented audit trail to reference.

A documented consent workflow

eConsent with two-step participant verification, investigator countersignature and a Fully Executed status only after countersignature.

Role-based access controls

Researcher, site coordinator and admin roles with PII segregation, enforced at the database layer.

Data security and hosting location

AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS/SSL in transit, hosted in the EU (Frankfurt) or USA (N. Virginia).

A record retention and audit answer

A field-level audit trail on every record, always exportable, that cannot be edited from the UI.

A blank CRF packet for reviewers

Export the full blank eCRF PDF packet directly from your study build.

Getting ready

From protocol to a submission-ready packet

  1. 1

    Draft the study

    Build the visit schedule and forms, or upload the protocol and let the AI draft a first pass to review.

  2. 2

    Export the blank CRF packet

    Once forms are approved, export the cover page, index and every empty form as a single PDF.

  3. 3

    Attach the consent template

    Choose from the eConsent template library, or adapt your own, and document the signature workflow.

  4. 4

    Submit and iterate

    Attach the packet to your IRB submission. Test everything free in the sandbox before your study goes live.

Before you switch

What academic PIs check before adopting a new system for a submission

Cost

Free sandbox to prepare your full submission packet; no credit card required.

Compliance

21 CFR Part 11-aligned controls and GDPR-ready infrastructure documented for your submission.

Setup time

Export the blank CRF packet directly from your build, no separate document to maintain.

Migration

Bring an existing protocol design across if you are switching from another system.

Support

Email support, typically under 24 hours.

Prepare your submission free

Build your study and export the blank CRF packet before you submit. No credit card.

Prepare your submission free

FAQ

Questions teams ask before they switch

Something not covered here? Ask us directly.

Can Capture generate the blank CRF packet an IRB asks for?

Yes. You can export a blank eCRF PDF packet with a cover page, form index, visit-by-form matrix and every approved form printed empty.

Can we show reviewers our consent process before going live?

Yes. The free sandbox lets you build and test the full eConsent workflow with sample data before your study is live.

Where is study data hosted?

In the EU (Frankfurt) or the USA (N. Virginia), depending on your setup, with AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS/SSL in transit.

Does this replace our IRB's own application form?

No. This checklist and the blank CRF export support the data management portion of your submission; your IRB's own application form and process still apply.

Is the audit trail available for reviewers if they ask about data integrity?

Yes. The field-level audit trail is always exportable and cannot be modified from the UI.

What does it cost to try?

Nothing to start. The free sandbox has no credit card and no time limit.

Prepare your submission free

Build your study and export the blank CRF packet before you submit. No credit card.

Prepare your submission free