Peer Review Process
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Overview
Every manuscript submitted to the Journal of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics (JMLD) passes through a structured, multi-stage evaluation designed to verify analytical validity, diagnostic relevance, and adherence to laboratory science standards. The process concludes with a final editorial decision made by the Editor-in-Chief, followed by a transparent publication workflow.
Review Model
JMLD applies a Double-Blind Peer Review model to guarantee impartial, merit-based evaluation of every submission. Author and reviewer identities remain mutually anonymous throughout the process, and all communication is routed exclusively through the assigned handling editor.
- Reviewers never receive information that could reveal the author's identity or affiliation.
- Authors never learn the identity of the reviewers assigned to their manuscript.
- All correspondence is mediated by the section/handling editor to preserve anonymity.
Double-Blind
Review Type
2 Rounds
Minimum Evaluation
2 Reviewers
Per Review Round
Review Quality Criteria
01
Analytical & Methodological Rigor
Assessment of laboratory protocols, analytical validity, and diagnostic methodology, including appropriate use of controls, calibration, and statistical analysis suited to the research question.
02
Clinical & Diagnostic Relevance
Evaluation of how findings contribute to diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making, and advancement of medical laboratory science and molecular diagnostics.
03
Novelty & Originality
Verification that the manuscript introduces new biomarkers, assay techniques, or diagnostic insights that meaningfully advance the field rather than duplicating existing published work.
04
Clarity of Presentation
Review of manuscript structure, data presentation (tables, figures, reagent/instrument specifications), and overall readability for a scientific and clinical laboratory audience.
05
Ethical & Biosafety Compliance
Confirmation of institutional/ethics committee approval, informed consent, proper handling of biological specimens, and compliance with biosafety and patient data protection standards.
Review Workflow
1
Initial Peer Review (Round 1)
The handling editor assigns the manuscript to two reviewers with relevant expertise in medical laboratory technology or diagnostics. Reviewers submit detailed assessments and recommendations within the designated timeframe.
2
Revision & Secondary Review (Round 2)
Authors revise the manuscript according to reviewer feedback and resubmit with a point-by-point response letter. The editor may route the revised version back to the same or new reviewers to verify the quality of changes.
3
Editor-in-Chief Assessment
The Editor-in-Chief reviews all reviewer recommendations along with the authors' responses and revisions, then issues a final editorial decision: acceptance, minor/major revision, or rejection.
4
Final Decision Notification
Authors receive the final decision along with a summary of the editorial rationale and, where applicable, any remaining requirements before the manuscript proceeds to publication.
Publication Process
STEP 1
Copy Editing & Proofreading
STEP 2
Typesetting & Layout
STEP 3
Author Proof Approval
STEP 4
Open-Access Publication
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Review Comments & Reuse
Peer review feedback is a valuable asset for improving manuscript quality. Authors may reuse JMLD's review reports — including structured assessment forms, reviewer annotations, and specific revision recommendations — whether resubmitting to JMLD or submitting to another journal.
Note: Constructive reviewer feedback should be used to strengthen the scientific and technical quality of the manuscript, regardless of its final publication venue.
Confidentiality & Ethics
Reviewer Confidentiality
Reviewers may not discuss a manuscript under evaluation with colleagues or other reviewers without explicit permission from the handling editor.
Manuscript Confidentiality
Unpublished manuscripts and associated data are treated as privileged information and must not be shared with unauthorized parties.
Non-Transparent Review
JMLD does not currently publish peer review reports alongside articles. Review discussions remain strictly confidential among authors, reviewers, and the editorial team.
Single-Track Communication
All author-reviewer interactions are routed exclusively through the assigned handling editor to preserve anonymity and prevent direct contact.
Quality Assurance Through Rigorous Review
Journal of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics (JMLD)
