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Privacy concerns surrounding the DM and Subject Characteristics (SC) data were taken into account when these domains were created. For example, there are optional collection variables to collect the components of birthdate (e.g., BRTHDD, BRTHMO, BRTHYY); therefore, limited elements of birth day birthday may be collected and later mapped to the tabulation variable BRTHDTC. This approach provides flexibility in categorizing some variables to facilitate compliance with local privacy issues.

Collection of Age vs. Date of Birth

It is recognized that applicants may collect the age or date of birth of the subject. In multiregional studies, applicants may need to enable the collection of either in order to comply with local regulations. But only one or the other should be collected for any given subject.

  It is recognized that applicants typically collect the age or date of birth of the subject but may collect both if required by the study." In multiregional studies, applicants may need to comply with local regulations. When only age is collected, the applicant is left with a window of uncertainty of, at most, 365 days. Although knowing the precise date of birth provides the ability to calculate accurately an age for any date, a precise (and complete) date of birth may be considered personally identifying information for some privacy oversight boards or government regulators.

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