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Table of Contents: 2017 JANUARY–FEBRUARY No. 414

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Beta Version of ClinicalTrials.gov Available for Testing

Tse T. Beta Version of ClinicalTrials.gov Available for Testing. NLM Tech Bull. 2017 Jan-Feb;(414):e4.

2017 February 01 [posted]

A new beta version of ClinicalTrials.gov is available for user testing. The test site can be accessed from a link on the homepage (see Figure 1) or directly at https://clinicaltrials.gov/. The beta site will be available for at least one month to obtain feedback from the public. The new version of ClinicalTrials.gov was developed to provide new features to support searching for clinical studies.


Link to beta testing from ClinicalTrials.gov homepage.
Figure 1: Link to beta testing from ClinicalTrials.gov homepage.

Key features of the beta version include:

  • "Filters" for refining search results
  • "Show/Hide Columns" for customizing the display of search results
  • "Saved Studies" for storing and retrieving particular study records of interest

Additionally, "Basic Search" has been replaced with "Fielded Search," which provides more options for searching specific categories such as Conditions/Diseases and Study Location.

The new beta version accesses the same data as the operational version of ClinicalTrials.gov and allows users to compare the search functionality between the two systems.

Note: The content under the "Find Studies" menu item, including the "How to Search" pages on the beta version, have not yet been updated to reflect all of the new features and will remain "under construction" during the beta test period.

We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions on this new beta version of ClinicalTrials.gov. Please respond to the online survey by clicking on the "Give Us Feedback" link in the top right corner on the beta site (see Figure 2).


Give Us Feedback link on ClinicalTrials.gov beta site.
Figure 2: "Give Us Feedback" link on ClinicalTrials.gov beta site.

By Tony Tse
National Center for Biotechnology Information

NLM Technical Bulletin National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health