ACRP Certified Professional Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Test

The correct answer is based on the guidelines provided by the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) which state that an Institutional Review Board (IRB) must retain correspondence related to clinical trials for a minimum of three years after the completion of the trial. This retention period is set to ensure that there is a comprehensive record of the trial's compliance with ethical standards and regulatory requirements, allowing for adequate oversight and accountability.

Retaining correspondence for three years allows the IRB to address any issues that may arise post-trial, such as inquiries into how the trial was conducted or concerns about participant safety and ethics. This timeframe aligns with the need for transparency and thoroughness in clinical research, enabling effective monitoring even after the trial has officially concluded.

In contrast, other timeframes such as one year, two years, or five years do not meet the specific requirements outlined by ICH guidelines, which explicitly mandate the three-year retention period.