Eligibility criteria

The full list of requirements for taking part in a study.

Learning 

What it means

Eligibility criteria are the conditions a person must meet to join a study. They are split into inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria.

Why it matters if you take part

These are written for the study team, not for patients, so they can be dense. Only the trial site can apply them to a specific person.

Related terms

This explains how clinical research works. It is not medical advice and does not describe any specific condition or treatment. Only a trial site can determine whether someone can take part in a study.