Lab on a Chip

4.0 Administration

The Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt of a contribution for consideration immediately by e-mail (if an appropriate e-mail address has been supplied). The acknowledgement will indicate the paper reference number assigned to the contribution. Authors are particularly asked to quote this number on all subsequent correspondence. Correspondence will be sent by e-mail where possible.

4.1 Peer review, revision, acceptance, rejection

Details of refereeing policy and procedure are available via ReSourCe.

Each manuscript deemed suitable for consideration as a submission will be reviewed by at least two referees, whose names are not disclosed to the authors. The referees' reports constitute recommendations to the appropriate Editor, who is empowered to take final action on manuscripts submitted. The Editor is responsible for all administrative and executive actions, and is empowered to accept or reject papers. This decision and relevant comments of the referees are communicated to the author. Differences of opinion are mediated by the Editor, possibly after consultation with further referees, or by the Editorial Board. It is the Editor's duty to see that, as far as possible, agreement is reached between authors and referees; although the referees may need to be consulted again concerning an author's reply to comments, further refereeing will be avoided as far as possible. Authors will receive formal notification when papers are accepted for publication. When rejection of a paper is recommended, the Editor informs the author. Authors have the right to appeal to the Editorial Board if they regard a decision to reject as unfair.

4.2 Proofs for correction

PDF proofs for correction are sent by e-mail to the corresponding author. Please note that authors are responsible for the final proof-reading of manuscripts. It is imperative that authors check the proofs very carefully. Particular attention should be paid to numerical data both in the tables and text. Proof corrections should be returned to the Editorial office within 4 days of receipt (by e-mail, fax, first class mail, air mail, or express mail). All corrections should be sent at the same time. Papers are published as Advance Articles on the web as soon as possible after proof corrections are received from the authors. Late corrections cannot be incorporated after publication of the Advance Article.

An author may be required to pay the cost of any extensive changes made by him/her at proof stage (other than the correction of printer's errors). So far as possible, essential changes should be made without altering the length of the text, or at the end of a paragraph. The standard signs for proof correction set out in British Standard BS5261: Part 2 (1976) may be used: these are conveniently summarised in the pamphlet 'Authors' alterations cost money and cause delay...' , which can be purchased from the British Printing Industries Federation (11 Bedford Row, London, UK, WC1R 4DX). However, the author may prefer simply to put a line through the incorrect characters and write the correct version in the margin. Corrections should be made in ink, clearly and without ambiguity, and any queries from the printer and editorial staff on the manuscript, proof or query sheet should be answered fully. Alternatively, corrections can be sent by e-mail, in list format, clearly stating the page, paragraph and line number alongside each correction.

4.3 Reprints

The corresponding author will receive an electronic reprint (in PDF format) after publication. Authors may print and distribute hardcopies of their article on demand. Authors may also send the electronic file to individuals, as one would send a printed reprint. However, the electronic file may not be distributed via an email listserver and it may not be placed on any web site.

4.4 Rights and permissions

Lab on a Chip is copyright of the Royal Society of Chemistry and apart from fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 no part of the journal may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from the RSC. Forms requesting permission to reuse material from Lab on a Chip can be obtained via ReSourCe. Papers that are accepted for publication must not be published elsewhere, in whole or in part, except by permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Authors may reproduce/republish portions of their published contribution without seeking permission from the RSC, provided that any such republication is accompanied by an acknowledgement in the form: (Original Citation) - Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Authors submitting work for publication are required to agree an exclusive Licence to Publish which should accompany all submissions (available via ReSourCe). Publication cannot proceed without a completed Copyright Licence. Submission of a manuscript will be regarded as an undertaking that the same material is not being considered for publication by another journal in any language and will not be considered elsewhere until the RSC informs the author that it does not intend to publish the work.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission from the appropriate publisher when reproducing figures.