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The Non-Targeted Analysis Study Reporting Tool (SRT): A Framework to Improve Research Transparency and Reproducibility (American Chemical Society Spring 2021 Meeting)
Citation:
Peter, K., A. Phillips, A. Knolhoff, P. Gardinali, C. Manzano, K. Miller, M. Pristner, L. Sabourin, M. Sumarah, B. Warth, AND J. Sobus. The Non-Targeted Analysis Study Reporting Tool (SRT): A Framework to Improve Research Transparency and Reproducibility (American Chemical Society Spring 2021 Meeting). American Chemical Society Spring 2021 Meeting, Virtual, NC, April 05 - 16, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.23271818
Impact/Purpose:
Poster presented to the American Chemical Society Spring Meeting April 2021
Description:
High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and non-targeted analysis (NTA) methods have broadened the chemical lens through which researchers examine complex samples. Despite increasing refinement of instrumentation and workflows, universally accepted reporting standards for NTA studies have yet to be realized. Currently, proposed benchmarks address only specific elements of NTA reporting - most notably, confidence in compound identification. While critically important, such guidance is limited in scope (relative to an entire NTA workflow) and therefore insufficient to ensure scientific transparency and reproducibility. To address the need for standardized reporting criteria, the Benchmarking and Publications for Non-Targeted Analysis (BP4NTA) working group developed the NTA Reporting Tool (RT), the first easy-to-use approach for rigorous evaluation of NTA reporting practices. The RT is organized by NTA study chronology and contains 13 sub-categories for scoring that cover all aspects of study design; data acquisition, analysis methods, and outputs; and quality assurance/quality control metrics. To test the RT, eleven NTA practitioners applied it to evaluate the quality of reporting in eight published manuscripts covering environmental, food, and health-based exposomic applications. Results highlighted NTA areas where current reporting practices need significant improvement and demonstrated that the RT provides a valid framework for evaluating NTA reporting quality. In fact, 70% of scores self-assigned by authors of the evaluated manuscripts fell within the range of peer-assigned scores, indicating that future use of the RT will further strengthen reporting practices. Reviewer feedback directed an evolution of the RT to resolve ambiguity and coverage gaps. It further helped refine a final scoring system that provides an accessible and objective appraisal of overall study reporting quality. Widespread implementation of the Reporting Tool is anticipated to improve the efficiency and rigor of NTA study design and review, and ultimat
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: The Non-Targeted Analysis Study Reporting Tool (SRT): A Framework to Improve Research Transparency and Reproducibility (American Chemical Society Spring 2021 Meeting)
ACS_SPRING2021_SRT_POSTER.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 554.797 KB, about PDF)