You are here:
Nontargeted Analysis Study Reporting Tool: A Framework to Improve Research Transparency and Reproducibility
Citation:
Phillips, A., J. Sobus, K. Miller, AND A. Williams. Nontargeted Analysis Study Reporting Tool: A Framework to Improve Research Transparency and Reproducibility. NTA Focused Topic Meeting (SETAC), Durham, NC, May 22 - 26, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
The non-targeted analysis (NTA) Study Reporting Tool (SRT), developed by the Benchmarking and Publications for Non-Targeted Analysis working (BP4NTA) working group is designed to provide clear expectations for researchers about scientific reporting, unambiguous guidance for reviewers to support comprehensive yet efficient evaluations, and an invaluable resource for editors to ensure research transparency and reproducibility. A script for a promotional video has been created to increase awareness and use of the SRT in NTA-related research.
Description:
Non-targeted analysis (NTA) workflows using mass spectrometry are gaining popularity in many disciplines, but universally accepted reporting standards are nonexistent. Current guidance addresses limited elements of NTA reporting—most notably, identification confidence—and is insufficient to ensure scientific transparency and reproducibility given the complexity of these methods. This lack of reporting standards hinders researchers’ development of thorough study protocols and reviewers’ ability to efficiently assess grant and manuscript submissions. To overcome these challenges, we developed the NTA Study Reporting Tool (SRT), an easy-to-use, interdisciplinary framework for comprehensive NTA methods and results reporting. Eleven NTA practitioners reviewed eight published articles covering environmental, food, and health-based exposomic applications with the SRT. Overall, our analysis demonstrated that the SRT provides a valid structure to guide study design and manuscript writing, as well as to evaluate NTA reporting quality. Scores self-assigned by authors fell within the range of peer-reviewer scores, indicating that SRT use for self-evaluation will strengthen reporting practices. The results also highlighted NTA reporting areas that need immediate improvement, such as analytical sequence and quality assurance/quality control information. Although scores intentionally do not correspond to data/results quality, widespread implementation of the SRT could improve study design and standardize reporting practices, ultimately leading to broader use and acceptance of NTA data.
URLs/Downloads:
SCRIPT4_SRT_FINAL.DOCXPETER & PHILLIPS ET AL 2021.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 4469.627 KB, about PDF)
https://vimeo.com/706539457
