AIDS RESEARCH CENTER
Source citation and update guide

IDENTIFY THE ORIGINAL RECORD
- Title exactly as published.
- Authors or issuing organization.
- Publication or release date.
- DOI, PMID, trial identifier, report number or dataset identifier.
- Permanent source address rather than a search-results page.

DESCRIBE THE SOURCE
- Source type: guideline, trial, primary study, systematic review, dataset, policy or regulatory record.
- Population, geography and setting.
- Study design, intervention, comparator and outcomes where applicable.
- Version, edition or guideline status.
- Funding and declared conflicts.

STATE WHAT IT SUPPORTS
- Link the source to the exact claim it supports.
- Separate association, biological activity, efficacy, effectiveness and implementation.
- Keep uncertainty, limitations and applicability visible.
- Do not treat a registry listing or press release as proof of a positive result.

CHECK INTEGRITY
- Search for corrections, expressions of concern, withdrawals and retractions.
- Link a trial registration to posted results and publications.
- Note major protocol changes or updated analyses.
- Record the date the integrity status was checked.

MAINTAIN THE RECORD
- Keep publication date, page review date and source access date distinct.
- When guidance changes, identify the old and new issuing versions.
- Document material corrections: what changed, why, when and whether meaning changed.
- Preserve attribution to the original authors, institutions and publishers.

SUGGESTED SHORT CITATION FIELDS
Title | Author or organization | Source type | Date | Identifier | Version | URL | Accessed date | Evidence status | Integrity status

The Bach Foundation · AIDS Research Center · Free public resource