How to use a clinical trial record
Start with a condition or intervention, then open the full registry record. This search returns a short selection, not every possible study. Use ClinicalTrials.gov directly for location and recruitment filters. Search with general terms only: do not enter names, contact details or a personal medical history.
Check status before contacting a study
- Recruiting: the study is seeking participants.
- Not yet recruiting: recruitment has not started.
- Active, not recruiting: the study continues but is not taking new participants.
- Completed, terminated or withdrawn: these are not open-recruitment labels.
Check the record’s last update and the specific study location. A general recruitment label does not guarantee a place at a nearby site. Confirm current availability with the listed study contact.
Eligibility is more than a diagnosis
Participation may depend on age, disease stage, past treatment and other conditions. The research team decides eligibility. Before agreeing, ask about visits, tests, costs, alternatives and possible harms. Consent is an ongoing choice; you can ask questions or withdraw. Participation may not benefit you personally.
Registration is not a treatment recommendation
Read what is being compared and which outcomes the investigators plan to measure. A listed study is not proof that an intervention works, and a completed study may not yet have results posted. Discuss any possible participation with your care team; do not stop usual care based on a search result.
Read our guide to interpreting clinical trials