How to Confirm a Hospital Is Recruiting for a Study You Found Online

EastMedGo Nov 6, 2026

Once you have a trial registration number, find the original record on the relevant registry, then contact the research team using contact details published on the hospital’s official website. Ask the team to confirm that this is the same study, that the relevant cohort at this hospital campus is currently accepting people for screening, and how to book the next step. A registry status of “Recruiting” does not mean every hospital has places available; a screening appointment does not mean you have been approved to enroll.

Key Points

First, check that the registration number, protocol number, intervention name, condition, and hospital match. If they do not, ask the hospital’s research office to explain, and hold off on payment and travel.
Verify the contact person through the switchboard or clinical trials office listed on the hospital’s official website. Then ask whether this campus and the relevant cohort are open, whether they accept patients from outside mainland China, and how to arrange prescreening and an appointment.
Before any study-specific procedures, ask the research team to explain the applicable informed consent form. Do not stop medication on your own to meet eligibility criteria; discuss treatment during the wait with your current doctor.
In mainland China, sponsors and trial institutions must not charge participants fees related to a drug clinical trial. For any charge, first ask what it covers, the basis for it, and who will receive the payment. Check compensation for reasonable expenses separately.

Find the original record and check that it is the same study

Ask the person providing the information for the study registration number, protocol number, full study title, sponsor, drug or other intervention name, and the hospital and campus you plan to visit. Save the original webpage or message and the date you checked it.

To look for drug trials in mainland China, visit the Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Disclosure Platform, select “Trial Disclosure and Search,” and search by registration number. You can also search by condition or drug name. For other studies, try the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry or ClinicalTrials.gov. Different platforms cover different types of studies. Not finding a study on one platform does not mean it does not exist or is unlawful. The research team should explain the study category and the registration and review processes that apply.

Open the original record and compare the registration number, protocol number, sponsor, intervention, condition, and participating hospitals. Check the recruitment status and when the record was last updated. Multiple numbers may or may not refer to the same study: check each original record and ask the research team to confirm. Registry information alone cannot prove ethics approval, that this hospital campus has started the study or is recruiting, or that the treatment will work for you.

If the number refers to a different condition, product, or hospital, do not assume it is a translation issue. Send the discrepancies to the hospital’s research office and the contact listed in the registry record. Ask them to clarify the exact study and site. Hold off on payment and travel until the discrepancies have been explained.

Find the actual research team through official hospital channels

Find the switchboard or clinical trials office contact details yourself on the hospital’s official website. Provide the registration and protocol numbers, and ask to be connected to the research team responsible for the study at that campus. Verify the principal investigator, campus, and department. Do not rely only on numbers shared in advertisements, social media accounts, or messages forwarded by intermediaries. If needed, use the healthcare institution search on the National Health Commission Government Services Platform to check the hospital’s name. A hospital’s existence does not mean it is participating in this study.

For a drug or medical device clinical trial, ask the clinical trials office to confirm the institution’s filing details for the relevant trial category and the relevant research specialties, and ask where you can verify them. Filing is only one of the requirements for an institution. It does not prove that this protocol has passed ethics review, that the site is recruiting, or that the treatment works. Observational and other studies may follow different oversight processes. Do not assume that drug or device trial filing requirements apply to all studies; ask the research office to explain the process that applies to this study.

On ClinicalTrials.gov, check Contacts and Locations. Some studies list only a contact for the overall study. Ask that person for the target hospital team’s contact details, then verify them through the hospital’s public contact channels. If the target hospital is not listed, calls go unanswered, or the hospital cannot find the study, ask the hospital’s research office and the sponsor’s contact to check whether the site has recently been added, whether it has started the study, and who the current contact is. Record the response and date. If you cannot confirm these details for now, do not treat a promotional page as proof that the hospital is accepting people for screening.

Ask whether this campus and cohort are currently accepting people for screening

Give the research team the registration number, protocol number, and exact hospital campus, and ask:

Is this campus participating in the study, and has it started? Which investigator and department are responsible? How can I verify this site’s ethics review and the informed consent form currently in use?
Is the cohort relevant to my condition currently accepting people for prescreening and formal screening? If recruitment is paused or the cohort is full, are there other sites, or a time when I should contact you again?
Do you accept patients from outside mainland China? Can I have remote prescreening first? What records are needed, how should I submit them, and when should I expect a reply?

A “Recruiting” status for the overall study may mean that only one site is recruiting. Ask the target site for a dated response. Status can change, so confirm again close to your travel date. The research office can provide the ethics committee’s name, review information, and study documents; you do not need to ask it to disclose the complete confidential review file. If you cannot verify the investigator, intervention, or campus, or if someone prevents you from contacting the hospital directly, pause here and check with the hospital office or sponsor.

Move from prescreening to a documented appointment

Before sending medical records, confirm the recipient’s identity, which records are needed, how they will be used, and the secure submission method approved by the hospital. Start by preparing a one-page medical summary and the reports the team requests. Do not send complete identity documents or medical records in public groups. Ask the site whether it has received the files, whether they can be opened, who will review them, and when you should check for a result.

A prescreening response may be “potentially eligible,” “more information needed,” or “not eligible.” Being potentially eligible does not mean you have enrolled. Ask the research team whether formal screening requires an in-person visit, tests, or a review of previous reports, which tests must be repeated, and who arranges the appointment.

When confirming a screening appointment, record the study number, hospital and campus, department, date and time, check-in location, contact person, documents to bring, and how to reschedule. Ask whether this is study screening or a regular outpatient appointment, and whether any other steps are required. Save the hospital’s appointment details. Without a confirmed appointment, do not treat “we have received your records” as a successful booking.

Before study-specific tests or other study procedures, ask the team to complete the informed consent process as required for the study: explain the study, risks, alternatives, costs, and right to withdraw in a language you understand; allow time for questions; and give you a copy to keep after signing. Ask the team to explain, item by item, which procedures are routine care and which are specific to the study.

What to check before paying or traveling

Ask the site to provide a written breakdown of costs for screening, study drugs, tests, routine care, travel and accommodation, interpreting, and any costs after an unsuccessful screening. For each item, ask who pays, whether you must pay upfront, and how reimbursement or compensation is handled. Article 8 of China’s Regulations for the Implementation of the Drug Administration Law states that drug clinical trial sponsors and trial institutions must not charge participants fees related to the clinical trial. The applicable mainland China measures for ethics review also prohibit charging research-related fees and require appropriate compensation for reasonable expenses incurred through participation in research. Confirm how each specific cost is classified and how compensation is handled. If you have questions, ask the principal investigator, clinical trials office, ethics committee, or relevant authority to review them.

If someone asks for a “slot reservation fee,” guarantees enrollment, or guarantees assignment to a particular group, pause payment and ask the hospital’s research office to verify who is charging, the purpose and basis of the charge, and the official receipt. Screening costs, arrangements for research-related harm, and compensation for travel expenses are separate issues. Do not judge them solely by the phrase “free trial.”

Before departure, ask the team to explain whom to contact in an emergency involving research-related harm, where to seek care, and how treatment costs and compensation or damages will be handled. Under the applicable mainland China measures for ethics review, research-related harm should receive prompt, free treatment, with compensation or damages provided in accordance with the law and the agreement between the parties. Whether harm is research-related, payment for care outside mainland China, and who is responsible must be verified case by case. If symptoms are severe or worsen rapidly, first seek emergency care nearby, then contact the research team as soon as possible and keep your medical records.

Ask about the expected screening and visit schedule, which visits require attendance at the hospital, language support, what happens if you do not pass screening, and emergency contacts. Discuss with your current treating doctor how long you can wait and your treatment plan if you do not pass screening. Do not stop medication or delay necessary treatment on your own. Keep your travel arrangements flexible, and reconfirm the site’s status and your appointment before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The registry says “Recruiting.” Can I go directly to the hospital?

First ask whether the target campus and relevant cohort are accepting people for screening, and obtain a specific appointment before arranging travel. The registry status may be out of date or may reflect only the overall study.

If the hospital is not listed in the registry, does that definitely mean the study is fake?

No. The hospital may not be participating, may not yet have started the study, or the public information may not have been updated. Ask the hospital’s research office and sponsor to confirm that it is the same protocol, the exact campus, and whether the site has started. Do not travel until you have a clear answer.

What if the contact person does not reply for a long time?

Check that the number comes from the hospital’s official website, and ask the switchboard whether it can connect you to the research office. You can also contact the study contact listed in the registry or other sites. Record the dates you make contact, and discuss other treatment or study options with your treating doctor in the meantime.

An intermediary says a place has been reserved for me. Does that count as enrollment?

No. Ask the hospital’s research team to confirm the current screening arrangements. Final eligibility must be assessed according to the protocol, and an intermediary cannot guarantee your group assignment in a randomized trial. Do not pay to reserve a place.

What do I need to sign after passing prescreening?

Ask the site to arrange an informed consent discussion and confirm that you receive the version currently applicable at that site. Complete informed consent according to the applicable requirements before any study-specific procedures. Signing does not guarantee enrollment, and it does not prevent you from asking questions later or deciding to withdraw.

Can I withdraw after signing?

The applicable mainland China measures for ethics review allow participants or their guardians to withdraw unconditionally at any stage. Tell the research team your decision, and discuss safe medication discontinuation, follow-up tests, and care with the study doctor. Do not change your medication on your own. If you face barriers to withdrawing, contact the ethics committee listed in the consent form or the relevant authority.

Sources

Checked on: November 6, 2026. Registry information and site status can change. Refer to the latest records and the target site’s response.

Some registry or government pages may be temporarily inaccessible because of network restrictions or dynamic loading. You can ask the research office for the current official page or portal for verification.