Protocol Deviation Log De-Identification with anonym.plus

Clear case codes and staff names from the sheet while each issue stays clear.

Deviation log de-identification is the removal of subject and staff identifiers from the issue list. It supports ICH E6(R2) good clinical practice. anonym.plus runs offline and keeps each entry description readable.

When this applies

A quality lead shares the issue list with an external reviewer. Each row names the person affected and the staff member who logged it.

How anonym.plus handles it

  1. Open the file (XLSX, CSV, or DOCX) in anonym.plus on your device.
  2. The tool scans rows for subject codes, staff names, and dates.
  3. Local OCR reads a scanned paper page if you add one.
  4. Confirm the flagged people and the affected codes.
  5. Swap each for a neutral label, or black it out.
  6. Save the clean list locally with no upload.

What you need to provide

PHI entity types detected

Categoryanonym.plus entity typeExample
Subject codeIDsubject 09-221 → [SUBJECT]
StaffPERSONlogged by P. Andersson → [STAFF]
DatesDATE_TIMEoccurred 22/05/2026 → [DATE]
SiteLOCATIONSite 09, Malmö → [SITE]
InvestigatorPERSONPI Dr. Lind → [INVESTIGATOR]
ContactEMAIL_ADDRESSqa@example.se → [EMAIL]

Compliance achieved

Anonymize protocol deviation logs offline — see plans & start free →

Limitations & cautions

A description can name a subject inside the free-text cell, not just the code column. The tool scans both. Read the narrative cells closely, since a detailed account can still point to one person at a small site.

Frequently asked questions

What is a protocol deviation log?

It is the running list of times the trial strayed from its plan, with the subject affected and the staff involved. Reviewers need to see the pattern, not the names, so a clean copy is shared.

Where do names hide?

In the free-text description cells, not only the code column. The tool scans the prose in each row and flags any people it finds.

Do the entries stay readable?

Yes. The nature of each issue, its cause, and its fix stay. Only subject codes, staff names, and the site are removed.