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Most Common Reasons for Projects to Fail to Qualify (FTQ)

1. Human, vertebrate animal, or PHBA studies that did not have preapproval

2. Prohibited Vertebrate Animal Studies

Studies done at home/school/field that should have been done at a regulated research institution
Studies that caused more than momentary pain or suffering or that were designed to kill
Toxicity studies
Predator/vertebrate prey experiments
Studies where student performed euthanasia on a vertebrate animal
Studies with LD-30 or greater in any group or subgroup
Studies where animals have a weight loss greater than or equal to 15%
Studies where there was an inappropriate restriction of water or food
Studies treated as embryonic studies that were actually vertebrate studies

3. Prohibited Studies using Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (PHBA's)

Microorganisms were cultured at home
BSL-2 studies (including opening plates or containers of unknown microorganisms) done in a BSL-1 lab

4. Prohibited Human Subjects Studies

Studies where the IRB required written documentation of consents which were not obtained
Studies where the student used surveys/questionnaires without IRB review and approval

5. Eligibility Problems

Student worked with a partner or team but competed as an individual, or vice versa
Project was more than 1 year in length or was too old
More than three students on a team

6. Scientific Misconduct

7. Other problems that may result in an FTQ

Continuation study which was merely a repeat of a previous project conducted by the student
Student removed or added items to the project display which he/she had been previously told to change