Evidence Labels and Verification Status: Imported, Extracted, Editorially Checked and Clinically Reviewed
What the Research Library's verification labels mean, why imported is not the same as checked, and why no label here is an endorsement or a medical review.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
The short answer
In the Research Library, a label describes how a piece of information got onto the page. It does not describe how true or useful the information is. Records start as "imported," and some pages are marked "editorially checked." No record claims medical review, and no label is an endorsement of an herb, ingredient or product.Four ideas that are easy to mix up
Labels on health information can mean very different things. Keeping the terms apart helps you read any website, including this one.| Term | Plain meaning | What it can and cannot show |
|---|---|---|
| Imported | The record was brought in from a public database or ontology as received | Shows where data came from; says nothing about accuracy |
| Machine extracted | Facts were pulled out of text by a computer program | Describes the method only; it is not a verdict on accuracy |
| Editorially checked | The page itself states that it was checked editorially | Describes an editorial check; it is not a clinical judgment |
| Clinically reviewed | A qualified clinician reviewed the content | This site does not claim it for any record |
Only the first and third labels are shown in the library. Imported is the default. Editorially checked appears only where a page states it. The other two are listed here so you recognize them elsewhere.
What this means for a record
The library holds imported records, about 6,800 herbs, 44,600 ingredients, 6,700 formulas, 30,500 condition and syndrome terms, 19,900 symptom (phenotype) terms, 15,700 gene records and 25 biomarker records. All were imported from public databases and ontologies, and none has been reviewed by a clinician. So an imported record can tell you a name and links exist. It cannot tell you that a claim attached to the name is correct.An ontology is a standardized vocabulary for describing things and how they relate. [1] Ontology terms are labels for ideas, not statements that the ideas are proven. The same caution applies to genes: a gene record is a named unit of inheritance with a symbol, and the name alone does not describe how it affects health. [2]
Evidence labels versus verification labels
Two separate questions are easy to blur.- Verification: who looked at this record, and how? This is the imported or editorially checked label.
- Evidence: what kind of research sits behind a claim? That depends on the type of study, such as laboratory, animal or human, and whether results are positive, null or mixed.
A record can be editorially checked and still link only to cell research. A record can be imported and link to a large human trial. The label and the evidence are different things.
Systematic reviews are one way researchers try to reduce bias: they use explicit methods and set eligibility rules to find and weigh the research on a question. [3] Reporting guidelines such as PRISMA exist so that authors describe why a review was done, what methods were used and what was found. [4] Even then, no label on this site replaces reading the underlying work.
Why not a "reviewed" badge
Medical review is a human judgment about a specific piece of writing at a specific date. Imported data from thousands of records cannot honestly carry that badge. The library therefore does not present imported records as verified, and it does not name reviewers or review dates it cannot back up.Common misunderstandings
- Editorially checked means medically approved. It does not.
- No warning means safe. An imported record may simply have none attached. For safety information go to Evaluating Safety Claims.
- A search-indexed page is a verified page. Search engines index records only when they have linked study records or a consumer guide. Thin imported records stay on the site but are kept out of search-engine results. Indexing is about content, not review.
- A label is an endorsement. It is not.
Related pages
Read How to Read Research Library Records for the routine, and the Research Library Glossary for terms.Frequently asked questions
Which labels does the library actually use?
Imported is the default. Editorially checked is shown only where a page says so.
Is any record clinically reviewed?
No record claims medical review.
Why are so many records without a summary?
They were imported from public databases and ontologies, and most have names, identifiers and linked study records but no written summary.
Does editorially checked mean I can rely on it for treatment?
No. Use it as editorial care, not clinical advice. Talk with a clinician about personal decisions.
Why are some pages hidden from search engines?
Thin imported records stay on the site but are kept out of search-engine results. Records are indexed only when they have linked study records or a consumer guide.
References
- Human Phenotype Ontology, About. About the Human Phenotype Ontology. Read 2026-10-22.
- MedlinePlus Genetics, What is a gene?. What is a gene?. Read 2026-10-22.
- Cochrane Library, About Cochrane Reviews. About Cochrane Reviews. Read 2026-10-22.
- PRISMA statement website. PRISMA statement. Read 2026-10-22.