Which of the following statements about secondary use of identifiable information is correct?

• A. Secondary use research involves using data that was originally collected for another purpose.
• B. REBs may waive the consent requirement for research involving secondary use of identifiable information if the researcher satisfies six conditions.
• C. Where research involves the secondary use of non-identifiable information, neither consent nor REB review is required.
• D. REBs may waive the consent requirement for research involving secondary use of identifiable information if the researcher fails to meet six conditions.

Answer: (B)

The essential point here is that, under TCPS2, a Research Ethics Board can approve a waiver of consent for the secondary use of identifiable information if the researcher can show that six specific criteria are met. This framework exists to allow valuable research to proceed when obtaining consent would be impractical or overly burdensome, while still protecting participants’ privacy and welfare. The correct statement reflects that a waiver is possible only when those six conditions are satisfied, not when they’re not met, and not in cases about non-identifiable data. That’s why the option stating that REBs may waive the consent requirement for secondary use of identifiable information if the researcher satisfies six conditions is the best choice.