Publication Ethics
COPE
Our Commitment
The Journal of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics (JMLD) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against any publication malpractice. This policy is guided by the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applies to all parties involved in the publishing process: authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.
Ethical Duties by Role
ED Duties of Editors
- Evaluate manuscripts solely on scientific merit, regardless of authors' race, gender, religion, or institutional affiliation.
- Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and disclose no information to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and publisher.
- Ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely peer review process for every submission.
- Act on suspected misconduct or ethical concerns, even after publication, and take reasonable responsive measures.
RV Duties of Reviewers
- Assist the editor in making fair editorial decisions through objective, evidence-based evaluation.
- Treat manuscripts under review as confidential documents and refrain from unauthorized discussion or disclosure.
- Alert the editor to any substantial similarity between the manuscript and other published work.
- Decline review invitations when a conflict of interest exists or sufficient expertise is lacking.
AU Duties of Authors
- Present an accurate account of the work performed along with an objective discussion of its significance.
- Ensure that submitted work is original and, where applicable, properly cite the work of others.
- Confirm that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration elsewhere.
- Disclose all sources of financial support and any relevant conflicts of interest.
Plagiarism Policy
JMLD applies a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form, including direct copying, paraphrasing without attribution, and self-plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are screened using similarity-detection software prior to peer review.
< 20%
Maximum Similarity Index Accepted
Pre-Review
Screening Stage
Zero Tolerance
Editorial Stance
Conflict of Interest
All authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing the objectivity of a manuscript's evaluation, including but not limited to funding sources, employment, consultancy, or personal relationships with other parties involved in the manuscript. Undisclosed conflicts of interest identified after publication will be addressed through a formal correction or notice.
Handling Misconduct & Retraction
Allegations of Misconduct
Any allegation of research or publication misconduct, including data fabrication, falsification, duplicate submission, or authorship disputes, will be investigated thoroughly by the editorial team in accordance with COPE guidelines. Authors will be given the opportunity to respond to any concerns raised.
Correction and Retraction
If a published article is found to contain significant errors or to violate ethical standards, JMLD will issue a correction, expression of concern, or formal retraction as appropriate, following the retraction guidelines established by COPE.
Integrity First, Science Always
Journal of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics (JMLD)
