# Systematic data capture reduces the need for source data verification: exploratory analysis from a phase 2 multicenter randomized controlled platform trial

## TL;DR

This study shows that systematic data capture in clinical trials can reduce the need for costly data verification, without affecting trial results.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that systematic data capture and monitoring can replace traditional source data verification in clinical trials.

## Key findings

- Retrospective SDV changed only 0.36% of data fields and did not alter trial outcomes.
- Systematic data capture and monitoring eliminated the need for manual SDV without compromising data integrity.
- SDV of 23% of eCRFs cost $6.1 million and 61,073 person-hours.

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to clinical trials focused on systematic, accurate primary data capture, and reduced reliance on source data verification (SDV). Here, we report on a natural experiment that allowed us to assess the quality, cost, and impact of this approach compared to traditional SDV.

The I-SPY COVID trial (NCT04488081) was a multicenter, open-label, platform trial that employed a streamlined daily checklist, daily capture of labs and medications, and centralized monitoring to ensure accurate data collection in lieu of SDV. The trial enrolled 1,111 patients in 11 drug arms with severe COVID-19. After the trial arms were closed, extensive retrospective SDV was performed on 333 (30.0%) patients, including 10,101 of 44,486 (23%) electronic case report forms (eCRFs), allowing us to evaluate the impact of our strategy on data integrity, outcomes, and costs.

We find that retrospective SDV results in changes to 0.36% (1,234 / 340,532) of data fields. It results in no changes to the type of outcome recorded (death, recovery, or censored), but changes in the day of recovery in 9 instances, by a median of 2 days (range 1-7). Two additional AEs are added during SDV that had not previously been captured. Costs associated with retrospective SDV of 23% eCRFs are 61,073 person-hours at a cost of $6.1 M.

Extensive SDV does not change any results or conclusions of the I-SPY COVID trial, which was designed with a systematic strategy for data capture, monitoring, and safety. This strategy could improve the efficiency of clinical trials and eliminate the need for manual SDV.

This study aimed to determine whether using a systematic approach to record clinical trial data accurately in the first place would reduce the need to re-check the data for errors later. The approach combined automated transfer of laboratory data, simplified electronic forms for clinical trial staff to complete and ongoing monitoring for safety by a committee of physicians. Re-checking the data after the trial had completed, known as “source data verification” or SDV, revealed very few errors and none that changed the result or interpretation of the clinical trial’s findings. Because SDV is very time consuming and costly, this study may provide a way to help reduce the overall costs of clinical trials.

Abbasi et al. evaluate the value of source data verification, a costly but traditional element of clinical trials. They find it is largely redundant when used with a systematic strategy to promote efficient and accurate data capture, monitoring, and safety in a phase II platform trial.

Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04488081