Finding out if a medical paper went through real peer review isn’t hard once you know where to look. This guide walks you through quick checks and deeper steps so you can sort vetted research from early drafts or marketing copy. It’s written for students, clinicians, and anyone who wants reliable signals without fuss. These checks work across publishers.
Start with broad signals. The table below lists what to verify, why it helps, and where to look. Run through it in order when you’re short on time, then keep reading for detail and screenshots you can mirror on any journal site.
| What to verify | Why it helps | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Journal peer-review policy stated | Confirms manuscripts are evaluated by external experts | Journal homepage → “About,” “Editorial policy,” or “Instructions for authors” |
| Editorial board with real names and affiliations | Signals accountable oversight | Journal site → “Editorial board” page |
| MEDLINE indexing | NLM screens for scientific and editorial quality | NLM Catalog or PubMed record → “Indexed for MEDLINE” |
| COPE or ICMJE alignment | Ethics and transparent review practices | Journal site badges or policy pages |
| Article type marked as research, review, or case report | Opinion without review is often labeled as editorial or correspondence | PDF header, article page, or metadata |
| Dates show “received–revised–accepted” | Typical path of peer review | Article page or PDF first page |
| Funding and conflicts disclosed | Standard in reviewed articles | End of manuscript or separate section |
| Preprint label present | Preprints are public drafts, not reviewed | Article page, PDF watermark, or server label |
| Retraction or expression of concern absent | Quality control signal post-publication | Publisher notice, PubMed record, or Crossref Events |
| Contact info for the journal office | Legitimate journals provide mailing details and email | Footer or “Contact” page |
| Scope matches the article | Off-topic content hints at low standards | Browse recent issues |
| Turnaround times appear realistic | Same-day acceptance is a red flag | “For authors” → peer review timeline |
How to check whether a medicine article is peer-reviewed
Find the journal’s peer-review policy
Open the article’s journal homepage and look for pages titled “About,” “Editorial policy,” or “Instructions for authors.” A clear policy explains who reviews manuscripts, what model is used—single blind, double blind, or open—and how decisions are made. Some publishers also post the review reports alongside the paper when transparency is enabled.
Confirm MEDLINE indexing instead of relying on PubMed alone
PubMed is a broad database that includes MEDLINE records, ahead-of-print items, and sometimes preprints. To verify higher curation, open the record in PubMed and check the right sidebar or the “Publication types, MeSH terms” area for the tag “Indexed for MEDLINE.” You can also search the NLM Catalog for the journal and read the status line.
Scan the article for review footprints
Peer-reviewed research usually shows received, revised, and accepted dates on the first page. You’ll also see the article type—original research, review, or case report—and a section that discloses funding and conflicts. Opinion pieces and letters often skip these elements.
Check editorial board and contact details
Legitimate titles list editors with full names, degrees, and institutional homes. You should also find a physical mailing location and a working editorial office email. A site with broken contact links or a secretive team deserves caution.
Cross-check ethics signals
Look for statements that the journal follows ICMJE guidance and adheres to COPE principles. These pages outline standards for reviewer conduct, author duties, and how the journal handles corrections and misconduct.
Resolve preprint vs peer-reviewed versions
If the paper appears on a preprint server, treat it as a draft until the peer-reviewed version is published. Some records in PubMed and PMC show both versions. Always cite the reviewed article when it exists.
Use indexing and abstracting services wisely
Inclusion in MEDLINE, Web of Science, or Scopus points to screening at the journal level. DOAJ lists open-access journals that meet its review and quality checks. Ulrichsweb, if your library provides it, marks whether a title is refereed.
Search for corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions
Reliable publishers link notices to the article page and to the DOI. You can also check the PubMed record, the Crossref Events feed, or the Retraction Watch database for post-publication actions. One correction is normal; repeated fixes on basic items can hint at poor review.
Assess turnaround claims and fees
Peer review takes time. Promises of acceptance within a day or two, or confusing fees that buy fast acceptance, signal low standards. Transparency about timelines and article processing charges is a good sign.
When in doubt, ask a librarian
Health sciences librarians verify journal status every day. Send the journal title and a link, and ask whether it’s peer-reviewed and where it’s indexed. Many libraries answer these questions for the public.
Document the policy you find
When you locate the journal’s peer-review policy, copy the URL into your notes or citation manager. If the page lists single-blind or double-blind review, record that. If the page mentions desk rejection, timelines, or appeals, record that too. These details help you answer “how was this vetted?” when you present or write.
Use the NLM Catalog to confirm status
Open the NLM Catalog, search the journal title, and read the line that says “Currently indexed for MEDLINE.” If it says Yes, you’ve got a curated title. If it says Journal not currently indexed for MEDLINE, treat the journal with care and seek extra confirmation.
Read the PubMed record like a pro
On the right rail of a PubMed record, look for links under “Publication types.” The presence of a preprint label or the absence of final pagination can hint at status. Use the “Similar articles” panel to see if other papers from the same journal look consistent and credible.
Match the article type to your need
Clinical decisions lean on original research, systematic reviews, and well-written case reports. Editorials and letters can still help with context, but they aren’t usually sent to full external review. Make sure the label on the page fits the way you plan to use the source.
Cross-verify ethics across pages
A genuine policy set is consistent: author instructions align with peer-review pages, and both align with the submission system. If the badge list includes COPE and ICMJE, the links should open to real, maintained sites—not image files or dead pages.
Handle preprints in citations
If only a preprint exists, you can cite it as a preprint if your course or journal allows that. Once the peer-reviewed version is out, switch your citation to the final article. If both versions are visible in PMC or PubMed, choose the record marked as the accepted or final version.
Balance indexing signals
Not every good journal sits in every index. Aim for a pattern: MEDLINE plus one other selective index, or strong publisher reputation with a clear review policy. Treat claims like “indexed in many databases” without names as marketing, not evidence.
Check post-publication history
Click the DOI and scroll for update history: corrections, addenda, or retractions. Crossref’s “Events” tab and PubMed’s “Publication types” will flag most changes. One correction is normal; repeated fixes on basic items can hint at poor review.
Read fee statements with calm eyes
Article processing charges are common in open-access publishing. Legitimate sites explain what the fee includes and when it’s due. A request for payment before peer review starts is a red flag.
Ask for help early
If you’re stuck, email a librarian with the journal URL and the PubMed link. Add your deadline. You’ll often get a clear yes or no and a short note you can paste into your assignment or SOP.
Finding if a medical source is peer-reviewed: step-by-step
Follow this sequence.
Read peer-review statements with care
Policy pages should describe who reviews submissions, how conflicts are handled, and what happens after acceptance. Watch for vague lines like “all papers are reviewed by experts” with no detail about process or timing. Transparent pages state the review type, expected rounds, and whether reviewer identities remain confidential.
Some journals enable transparent peer review
In that setup, the publisher posts reviewer reports and author replies alongside the paper. This doesn’t change the verdict on peer review itself; it just lets readers see how the decision came together.
Quick search moves in PubMed and the NLM Catalog
Use PubMed for article-level clues and the NLM Catalog for journal-level status. In PubMed, click the journal name under the title to jump to the journal’s page, then pick “Learn more” to reach the NLM Catalog entry. That entry lists the ISSN, publisher, and whether the title is currently indexed for MEDLINE.
When you need to limit a PubMed search to journals with MEDLINE status, add the filter tag medline[sb] to the query. This doesn’t force peer review, but it does keep the results within journals that passed NLM’s screening. Always open the record to confirm status on the right side.
Preprints, accepted manuscripts, and final articles
Preprints are public drafts. They circulate before editorial decisions and external review are done. Accepted manuscripts are vetted but not yet laid out by the publisher. Final articles are the version of record—the one you should cite when it exists.
PMC and PubMed now link some preprints to their later articles. That link is handy when you want the final version without repeating a search. If a record shows only a preprint, treat every claim with care and look for later updates.
What the ICMJE and COPE pages tell you
The ICMJE site lists roles and duties for editors, reviewers, and authors. Journals that align with those pages usually describe conflict checks, data sharing, and correction policies in a clear way. COPE’s principles spell out what a transparent peer-review policy looks like on a real website.
Article types that are usually peer-reviewed
Original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and case reports normally pass through external review. Rapid communications and brief reports often do as well, though the timeline can be tight. Editorials, letters, news, and book reviews usually rely on editorial screening alone.
Build a repeatable checklist for your team
Make a short template in your notes app: journal URL, policy link, MEDLINE status, article type, review dates, conflicts, indexing, and any notices. Running that same checklist on every source keeps your workflow tidy and shareable. Hand the template to new team members so they learn the moves fast.
Spot red flags before you cite
- Scope that doesn’t match medicine or the journal’s stated aims
- Promises of immediate acceptance or guaranteed indexing
- Editorial board made of unknown names without affiliations
- Article PDFs that miss received-accepted dates and disclosures
- Missing contact details or a contact form that never replies
- APC invoices sent before peer review starts
Last checks before you cite
Open the PDF and the landing page and confirm the same journal title, ISSN, and publisher. Verify that the article type is research, review, or case report for clinical content. Make sure you can name the peer-review model and point to the policy page if asked in class, clinic, or peer rounds.
What common databases do—and don’t—tell you
| Service | What it tells you | What it doesn’t tell you |
|---|---|---|
| PubMed / MEDLINE | Shows biomedical citations; MEDLINE tag signals NLM curation | Doesn’t filter every result to peer-reviewed; includes ahead-of-print and some preprints |
| PubMed Central (PMC) | Hosts full texts and may link preprints to later articles | Hosting doesn’t equal peer review; check the article record |
| DOAJ | Lists open-access journals that pass quality checks | Not a full list of all medical journals |
| Web of Science / Scopus | Selective indexes with journal-level screening | Paid access; not every good title is listed |
| Ulrichsweb | Directory that marks refereed titles | Subscription; entries can lag changes |
| Crossref | Shows DOIs, updates, and events | Doesn’t label peer review by itself |
Once you practice these steps a few times, the pattern sticks. You’ll read faster, waste less time, and cite with confidence. Save this page, and share it with teammates who ask the same question next week.