Peer Review Process
Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to the Iraqi Journal of Microbiology and Biomedical Science (IJMBS) are subject to a rigorous double-blind peer review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential.
- Upon submission, manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screening by the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned senior editor to assess their relevance, originality, scientific quality, and compliance with the journal’s scope and guidelines.
- All submissions are screened for plagiarism and similarity using appropriate similarity detection software. Similarity checks may be conducted at any stage of the review process, including after publication if necessary.
- Manuscripts that pass the initial assessment are assigned to an Associate Editor, who oversees the peer review process. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent expert reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers are asked to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations regarding the scientific merit, methodology, clarity, and significance of the work.
- Reviewers are expected to conduct their assessments in accordance with the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers , ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
- Based on the reviewers’ reports and the recommendation of the handling editor, the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision, which may include acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. Authors are required to address all reviewers’ and editors’ comments in a revised submission when applicable. Revised manuscripts may undergo further rounds of review.
- Once a manuscript is accepted, it proceeds to language editing and formatting to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency. The corresponding author receives the final proof for approval before publication.
Privacy and Confidentiality
IJMBS adheres to internationally recognized standards for publication ethics, including the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers must not disclose any information related to a manuscript, including its content, review status, or reviewer comments, to anyone other than those directly involved in the editorial process.
Reviewers are prohibited from sharing manuscripts or using the content for personal purposes. Confidentiality may only be breached in cases of suspected scientific misconduct, in accordance with ethical guidelines.
Review Timeline
The editorial team of IJMBS is committed to ensuring an efficient and timely review process. Reviewers are requested to submit their evaluations within the agreed timeframe.
Authors can generally expect:
- Authors can typically expect a preliminary notification regarding the status of their manuscript within one week.
- Authors can generally expect a final editorial outcome within 4 to 6 weeks of their initial submission, depending on the speed of the peer review and subsequent revisions.
