Randomisation Services
Randomisation services in Australia
Types of services offered
Central randomisation services include web-based randomisation, telephone randomisation, either with interactive voice response (IVR) or operator-assisted systems, and manual preparation of randomisation envelopes or packages/kits of medications or other interventions.
Some services are only offered within local institutions, while others are offered, for a fee, to trials nationally and internationally. Centres offering a fee-based randomisation service include the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Sydney, and the Data Management & Analysis Centre at the University of Adelaide.
Local randomisation services are offered to researchers affiliated with the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne by the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (CEBU), Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. The Mater Health Service in Brisbane offers researchers randomisation assistance by providing an envelope system.
Costs associated with randomisation services
The cost of randomisation services depends on factors including the sample size of the study, number of sites/users, frequency of randomisation, type of system, method of randomisation, any kit/drug management requirements, site management requirements, use of toll free access, fax confirmations and other reporting options. When planning a trial a quote for randomisation services should be obtained and included in budgetary considerations and requests for funding.