Peer Review Publication Policies

Peer review is an essential component of the research publication. It aims to assess the validity of the reported research and suitability for journals’ scope and aims.  In order to maintain the integrity of the published record, all contributions submitted to Sterile Supply that are selected for peer review are sent to at least one, but usually two or more, independent reviewers, selected by the editors.  

Editors, authors and reviewers are required to keep confidential all details of the editorial and peer review process on submitted manuscripts. Unless otherwise declared as a part of open peer review, the peer review process is confidential and conducted anonymously; identities of reviewers are not released. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality of manuscripts. If a reviewer wishes to seek advice from colleagues while assessing a manuscript, the reviewer must consult with the editor and should ensure that confidentiality is maintained and that the names of any such colleagues are provided to the journal with the final report. Regardless of whether a submitted manuscript is eventually published, correspondence with the journal, referees' reports and other confidential material must not be published, disclosed or otherwise publicised without prior written consent.

Anonymity

Sterile Supply do not release referees' identities to authors or to other reviewers unless a referee voluntarily signs their comments to the authors. To increase the transparency of the reviewing process, reviewers may sign their reports, if they feel comfortable doing so.

Peer Review Process

1. Editorial Review

The preliminary review is conducted by the responsible editor of the discipline and the director of the editorial department, mainly including: Whether the paper conforms to the aims and scope of Sterile Supply; Whether the manuscript meets the basic elements and the publication criteria of academic paper; Whether the manuscript has plagiarism. The manuscript found to have been published or with academic misconduct behaviors will be rejected directly.

2. Initial Review

2.1 After the preliminary review on the form and content of the manuscript, the editorial staff selects at least one reviewer through the submission system or by sending emails or through wechat, and the reviewers recommended by corresponding authors are not accepted.

2.2 After receiving an affirmative reply, the manuscript and related materials, such as articles and related chart attachments, review lists, review methods instruction and requirements, are sent to the reviewer for reference.

2.3 The review comments will be summarized and appropriately revised and then sent to the author through the online submission system or e-mail or wechat. For manuscripts that need to be revised, the revision instruction and requirements should be sent at the same time, and the authors will be required to reply to the opinions one by one.

2.4 The editorial office follows the review process through the online review system or e-mail. The peer review should be finished in 14-28 days. If there is any unexpected situation, Sterile Supply will find another reviewer in time to avoid delays.

3. Re-Review

Manuscript review experts are requested to provide written review comments based on the academic quality of the paper. After passing the external review, the paper will be sent to the final review; if the external review opinion is not consistent, additional experts will be added to review the paper.

4. Final Review

The editorial department sends the revised manuscript to chief editor or deputy editor according to the peer review comments, and the editor-in-chief team makes the final judgment according to the different opinions of the reviews, the topic, research innovation, rationality, data processing methods, citations, academic value, etc and the direction and orientation of the journal, comprehensively considering the needs of column arrangement.