Standard Verification Research Articles

Cognizance and mitigation of falsified immunization documentation: Analyzing the consequences for public health in Nigeria, with a focus on counterfeited COVID-19 vaccination cards: A case report.

The global immunization campaign against COVID-19 has mandated vaccination certificates, leading to a surge in fake documentation. In Nigeria, the proliferation of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards, facilitated by unscrupulous health workers, raises critical public health concerns. This research spotlights various forms of this malpractice, analyzes the factors contributing to the circulation of fake vaccination cards, their implications on public health, and provides recommendations for addressing the issue. Extensive literature review and analysis were conducted to investigate the emergence of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards in Nigeria. Perspectives from health workers and reports from reputable undercover investigations were examined to identify factors contributing to the circulation of fraudulent records. The research also delved into corruption within the health sector and the impact of low salaries on healthcare workers. Additionally, global instances of fake vaccination cards were explored to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Healthcare workers' vaccine hesitancy, corruption, and inadequate salaries were identified as key contributors to the circulation of fake vaccination cards in Nigeria. Instances of health workers accepting bribes to issue cards without administering vaccines were uncovered. The implications on public health included threats to herd immunity, compromised disease surveillance, erosion of public trust, and reinforcement of vaccine hesitancy. The research also highlighted global challenges with fake vaccination cards, emphasizing the need for international cooperation. Fake vaccination cards in Nigeria poses challenges to public health, affecting the reliability of immunization data and jeopardizing disease control efforts. It is crucial to strengthen healthcare worker engagement, tackle corruption through increased transparency and improved policies, and implement digital vaccination verification systems. International collaboration is essential to establish standardized security measures and verification checkpoints. Addressing flawed vaccination records requires urgent action to enhance vaccination efforts, and safeguard the population from the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Use of the ETV6/RUNX1 probe to verify the performance of the fluorescence in situ hybridization probe before clinical detection

Objective: To explore the standardized performance of a FISH probe before clinical detection. Methods: The probe sensitivity and specificity of ETV6/RUNX1 were analyzed via interphase and metaphase FISH in 20 discarded healthy bone marrow samples. The threshold system of the probe was established using an inverse beta distribution, and an interpretation standard was established. Finally, a parallel-controlled polymerase chain reaction detection study was conducted on 286 bone marrow samples from patients at our hospital. The clinical sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic coincidence rate of ETV6/RUNX1 FISH detection were analyzed, and the diagnostic consistency of the two methods was analyzed by the kappa test. Results: The probe sensitivity and specificity of the ETV6/RUNX1 probe were 98.47% and 100%, respectively. When 50, 100, and 200 cells were counted, the typical positive signal pattern cutoffs were 5.81%, 2.95%, and 1.49%, respectively, and the atypical positive signal pattern cutoffs were 13.98%, 9.75%, and 6.26%, respectively. The clinical sensitivity of FISH was 96.1%, clinical specificity was 99.6%, diagnostic coincidence rate was 99.00%, diagnostic consistency test kappa value was 0.964, and P value was <0.001. Conclusion: For FISH probes without a national medical device registration certificate, standardized performance verification and methodology performance verification can be performed using laboratory developed test verification standards to ensure a reliable and accurate reference basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Developing An Interactive Chemistry E-module Based on Problem-based Learning to Improve Critical Thinking Skills of High School Students

This study aims to develop an interactive chemistry E-module based on problem-based learning (PBL) to improve the critical thinking skills of high school students in class X and measure its feasibility. This research used the research and development method with the ADDIE model, which consists of 5 stages (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation). The tools used in this study were test tools and non-test tools, namely modified BSNP standard verification sheets and essay questions. The data analysis techniques used in this research were qualitative and quantitative. The results of the feasibility test from the materials specialist instructors, and chemistry teachers, as well as media specialists, an average result of 82.7% met the "very fair" criterion. An average result of 93.12% met the "highly feasible" criterion. Based on classroom learning experiments, the E-module can improve students' critical thinking skills by achieving an N gain value of 0.48 in the medium category. It was also evidence of a 55% increase in students' average critical thinking ability score using electronic modules and belonging to the critical category. When learning with the E module, a significant difference occurs at the significance level α=0.000.

Navigating in the Dark

Abstract This article introduces the snap hook methodology, a method used notably in astrochemistry as a way to indirectly validate and assess the accuracy of computational calculations in the absence of experimental or observational data. We argue that this methodology has tremendous potential for all computationally intensive scientific fields as a substitute for traditional verification and validation standards when those are not accessible and estimating the reliability of numerical predictions becomes a real difficulty. The goal of this article is to give to this method, which seems to be implicitly relied upon in many areas, a proper formulation, in order for philosophers of science to enter the debate and to highlight its undeniable potential in terms of interdisciplinary facilitation and knowledge transmission.

Comparison of major carbon offset standards for soil carbon projects in Australian grazing lands

Despite the potential role of soil carbon offset schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there are concerns that the rules for assessment, monitoring, and operation are barriers to engagement. This may explain why there is low participation of Australian landholders in soil carbon projects. This study reviews the literature on three leading voluntary carbon standards and methods to assess their suitability for developing soil carbon projects in grazing systems in Australia. The soil carbon method of each standard was analysed based on several criteria: scope, eligibility/applicability, newness and additionality, permanency, baselines and quantification methodology, environmental sustainability, safeguard mechanism, and crediting period. A hypothetical grazing case study in Central Queensland, Australia’s premier beef cattle region, was used to model the cost-effectiveness and potential returns from establishing soil carbon projects under the three standards. Results show that credits created under the Emissions Reduction Fund in Australia generate higher returns for soil carbon projects compared to the Verified Carbon Standard and Gold Standard. This is largely due to a higher market price for soil carbon credits in the Emissions Reduction Fund, reflecting more robust standards of assessment and verification. While assessment costs for credits were higher in the international schemes, returns were lower because prices reflected less rigorous standards.

Examining Decision Support Systems (DSS) Verification Approaches of the Government Agencies in East Malaysia

This study examines the verification approaches used by government agencies in East Malaysia to ensure the reliability of Decision Support Systems (DSS) in their decision-making processes. Focus group interviews were conducted, revealing various verification methods employed. The study aims to contribute to understanding DSS verification techniques and the unique challenges government agencies face. Challenges identified include a need for more technical expertise. It recommends investing in staff training and adopting standardized verification frameworks to enhance DSS reliability. These findings are valuable for East Malaysian government agencies and other similar contexts, enabling informed decision-making through reliable DSS.

Activities of JSC “The Ukrainian research institute of refractories named after A. S. Berezhnoy” in the field of refractories standardization in 2021—2022

In 2021, JSC “URIR named after A. S. Berezhnoy” institute carried out scientific, scientific­technical, and organizational activities in the field of development, verification of national standards for refractories harmonized with ISO standards, provided scientific, methodological, information, and consulting services to provide regulatory documentation at the request of refractory enterprises of Ukraine.&#x0D; The Institute organized and coordinated the activities of the Technical Committee for Standardization “Refractories” (TC 7), prepared work plans and reports on the work performed by the TC 7 in 2021, and submitted them to the National Standardization Body — SE “UkrNDNC”.&#x0D; In 2021, JSC “URIR named after A. S. Berezhnoy” institute developed five technical specifications (TSs) for serial refractory products manufactured by refractory enterprises of Ukraine. Six technical specifications and eight changes to the current TSs for pilot batches of refractory products manufactured by the Institute were developed.&#x0D; The technical specifications and changes to the technical specifications were developed in accordance with the requirements of the modern standardization system of Ukraine, agreed upon with the enterprises — producers, as well as consumers, and checked for compliance with current legislation, technical regulations, as well as normative documents, and entered into the database “Technical Specifications of Ukraine” — SE “Kharkivstandartmetrologiya”, approved by the Technical Committee for Standardization “Refractories”.

Assessing the impact of an electronic chemotherapy order verification checklist on pharmacist reported errors in oncology infusion centers of a health-system.

Chemotherapies are medications with narrow therapeutic indices and potential for severe adverse events that account for at least 1 to 3% of medication errors in all adult and pediatric oncology patients. The use of an electronic chemotherapy order verification (ECOV) checklist can standardize the steps of chemotherapy verification by pharmacists, which can potentially increase medication error detection at the point of dispensing. This study evaluated the implementation of a standardized chemotherapy order verification checklist on pharmacist error reporting, particularly good-catches or near-misses type errors. This retrospective, quasi-experimental, pre-/post-analysis of internal voluntary medication errors reported from 12 University Hospitals Seidman oncology infusion centers from June 2022 through December 2022. Error reports, categorized based on severity, were compared pre/post-implementation of the ECOV checklist. A total of 62 and 71 cases of medication errors were reported in the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods, respectively. The rate of pharmacy reported medication errors was 2.4 times greater in the post-intervention period of the ECOV checklist (p < 0.006). Pharmacy reported errors increased among all error severities reported. However, the finding did not deduce a statistically significant difference (p < 0.244). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of implementing the ECOV checklist in increasing the rate of pharmacy reported medication errors. The checklist was designed to complement existing pharmacist workflow and provide a source of documentation for steps of sequential pharmacist evaluation.

HistoScanning&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; vs. standard multifocal biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis: a comparison of diagnostic methods

Introduction. Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant diseases. The prostate biopsy is the verification standard of PCa. The multifocal biopsy under ultrasound (US) guidance shows high rate of false negative results. As a result, the new diagnostic methods have been discovered. HistoscanningTM is the new method of visualization. HistoscanningTM is a new prostate tissue differentiation technology based on US backscatter analysis. The software analyses tissue density builds a 3D model of the prostate and indicates the localisation of PCa-suspect foci that are targeted for biopsy.Objective. To rate the diagnostic accuracy of HistoscanningTM and identify the benefits of targeted prostate biopsy compared to the multifocal biopsy.Matherials &amp; methods. A prospective study conducted between Jan 2017 and May 2021 is presented. Ninety-hundred nine patients who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy in Pirogov City Clinical Hospital No. 1 were included. Control group A — 443 men after standard multifocal biopsy, comparison group B — 506 men after combined standard multifocal biopsy together with targeted biopsy using HistoscanningTM.Results. In the control group, prostate cancer was detected in 33.4% of patients, while in the group using the HistoscanningTM device it was found in 39.7%. ISUP 1 high-grade PCa were more frequent in group В — 71.1%, in group А— 52.7%. Isolated lesion of targeted biopsy specimens was found only in 9 patients (4.5%) of the group В. Combined lesion of standard and targeted biopsy specimens was more frequent and was detected in 121 patients. However, in 72 patients no atypical cells were detected in targeted biopsy specimens when prostate cancer was verified in standard biopsy specimens. The efficacy of HistoscanningTM was comparable to standard biopsy for prostate volumes &gt; 60 cс.Conclusion. The use of HistoscanningTM improves the diagnosis of PCa, mainly due to the ISUP 1. Performing only targeted cores is impractical due to the high percentage of false negative results. Combined prostate biopsy with mandatory sampling of targeted biopsy cores along with standard biopsy specimens is indicated. The diagnostic accuracy of HistoscanningTM showed the best results with a prostate volume &lt;60 cc.

UPLC-MS/MS Method for Detection of Etomidate and Its Metabolite Etomidate Acid Quantity in Blood.

To establish a method for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of etomidate and its metabolite etomidate acid in blood, and to discuss its application value in actual cases. Acetonitrile precipitate protein method was used, and C18 column was selected. Gradient elution was performed with acetonitrile and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate within 6 min. Electrospray ionization source in positive ion mode was used. The internal standard etomidate acid-d5 was obtained by etomidate-d5 alkaline hydrolysis reaction. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used for quantitative analysis. The methodological verification was conducted. Etomidate and etomidate acid in blood showed good linear relationship in the quantitative linear range (r>0.999), with the lower limit of quantification was 2.5 ng/mL and 7.5 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy, precision, recovery rate, and matrix effect of the method met the professional verification standards. The practical application results showed that etomidate and etomidate acid could be detected in the blood of the abusers, and their mass concentrations ranged from 17.24 to 379.93 ng/mL. The method established in this study can simultaneously quantify etomidate and etomidate acid in blood, which is simple and convenient to operate with accuracy. It can meet the detection needs of actual cases and provide technical support for law enforcement to crack down on etomidate abuse.

Authentication propriety standard halal gelatine catfish skin from periodization quarantine (istihalah) in cultivation with feed containing pig contaminants

The limitations of fish meal as a feed ingredient were addressed by utilizing food waste, specifically pig innards. Concurrently, the rising demand for halal gelatin in the market generated a substantial need for fish skin by-products. This study aimed to determine the authentication propriety of halal standards for gelatin derived from catfish skin that had been fed with fish meal containing pig components over three different quarantine periods (istihalah): 0, 3, and 6 days after harvesting. The verification of the halal standard was conducted through the specific DNA analysis of pig components. This testing was performed at each stage, including the feed containing pig, the fish skin, and the catfish gelatin. The gelatin in the catfish skin was predominantly composed of the amino acids glycine and proline. The fish enlargement stage resulted in a skin yield of 5.36 ± 0.75%. The yields of gelatin were 8.67%, 9.94%, and 9.19%, with gel strengths of 133.4 ± 1.2 bloom, 129.9 ± 1.4 bloom, and 121.9 ± 2.8 bloom for the 0, 3, and 6 days of istihalah, respectively. Gelatin characterization using FTIR indicated the presence of functional groups such as amide A, amide I, amide II, and amide III. Real-time PCR detected the presence of pig DNA in the feed; however, it was not detected in the skin and gelatin of the catfish. Ultimately, a quarantine period of 0 days for catfish fed with pig-containing feed was sufficient to cleanse the catfish skin of pig contaminants, with no indication of pig DNA being found.

Benchmarking Pediatric Trauma Care in Mixed Trauma Centers: Adult Risk-Adjusted Mortality Is Not a Reliable Indicator of Pediatric Outcomes.

Trauma center benchmarking has become standard practice for assessing quality. The American College of Surgeons adult trauma center verification standards do not specifically require participation in a pediatric-specific benchmarking program. Centers that treat adults and children may therefore rely solely on adult benchmarking metrics as a surrogate for pediatric quality. This study assessed discordance between adult and pediatric mortality within mixed trauma centers to determine the need to independently report pediatric-specific quality metrics. A cohort of trauma centers (n = 493, including 347 adult-only, 44 pediatric-only, and 102 mixed) that participated in the American College of Surgeons TQIP in 2017 to 2018 was analyzed. Center-specific observed-to-expected mortality estimates were calculated using TQIP adult inclusion criteria for 449 centers treating adults (16 to 65 years) and using TQIP pediatric inclusion criteria for 146 centers treating children (0 to 15 years). We then correlated risk-adjusted mortality estimates for pediatric and adult patients within mixed centers and evaluated concordance of their outlier status between adults and children. The cohort included 394,075 adults and 97,698 children. Unadjusted mortality was 6.1% in adults and 1.2% in children. Mortality estimates had only moderate correlation ( r = 0.41) between adult and pediatric cohorts within individual mixed centers. Mortality outlier status for adult and pediatric cohorts was discordant in 31% (32 of 102) of mixed centers (weighted Kappa statistic 0.06 [-0.11 to 0.22]), with 78% (23 of 32) of discordant centers having higher odds of mortality for children than for adults (6 centers with average adult mortality and high pediatric mortality and 17 centers with low adult mortality and average pediatric mortality, p < 0.01). Adult mortality is not a reliable surrogate for pediatric mortality in mixed trauma centers. Incorporation of pediatric-specific benchmarks should be required for centers that admit children.

An Analytical Study of Visual Illustrations in ‎Chemistry Textbooks for the Basic Stage in ‎Jordan in Light of Educational Standards

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the ‎percentage of visual illustrations in elementary chemistry ‎textbooks that meet educational standards and the degree to ‎which they vary by grade level (ninth and tenth). To achieve the ‎objectives of the study, an analysis form was designed to ‎analyze the pictures, graphics, tables, and charts. It consisted of ‎‎20 criteria distributed over five domains: realism; accuracy, ‎clarity, and color; related to objectives and content; size and ‎density; and consideration for learners. The results indicated ‎that the general average of the percentage of verification of ‎educational standards for the illustrations as a whole in the ‎chemistry textbook for the ninth grade was 94.1%, with a high ‎degree, and the standards ranged between 79% and 100%.. In ‎the tenth grade textbook, the general average of the percentage ‎of verification of educational standards for the illustrations as a ‎whole was 92.8 percent with a high degree, and the standards ‎ranged between 76% and 100%..The percentages of domains ‎that have been verified in the two textbooks are ordered as ‎follows: The domains of realism, association with aims, size ‎and density, accuracy, clarity, and color, and finally the domain ‎of learner consideration, all with high degrees.The results also ‎revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in ‎the percentage of verification of the educational standards for ‎the visual illustrations as a whole between the ninth and tenth ‎grade textbooks. At the level of domains, there were significant ‎differences between the two textbooks in the field of ‎consideration for learners in favor of the ninth grade textbook. ‎However, there were significant differences in five criteria at the ‎level of standards. Three criteria were in favor of the ninth ‎grade, namely: (the title fits with the illustration, is linked to the ‎learner's previous experiences, and gives the learner positive ‎attitudes), and two criteria were in favor of the tenth grade, ‎namely: (achieving all aims related to the concept, the ‎illustration's density of concepts and information is ‎appropriate).‎ ‎(Keywords: Chemistry Textbooks, Content Analysis, ‎Educational Standards, Illustrations, Ninth and Tenth Grades)‎

Development and Initial Performance of the Hospital Mental Health Risk Screen.

Patients hospitalized after emergency care are at risk for later mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma standards for verification require Level I and II trauma centers to screen patients at high risk for mental health problems. This study aimed to develop and examine the performance of a novel mental health risk screen for hospitalized patients based on samples that reflect the diversity of the US population. We studied patients admitted after emergency care to 3 hospitals that serve ethnically, racially, and socioeconomically diverse populations. We assessed risk factors during hospitalization and mental health symptoms at follow-up. We conducted analyses to identify the most predictive risk factors, selected items to assess each risk, and determined the fewest items needed to predict mental health symptoms at follow-up. Analyses were conducted for the entire sample and within 5 ethnic and racial subgroups. Among 1,320 patients, 10 items accurately identified 75% of patients who later had elevated levels of mental health symptoms and 71% of those who did not. Screen performance was good to excellent within each of the ethnic and racial groups studied. The Hospital Mental Health Risk Screen accurately predicted mental health outcomes overall and within ethnic and racial subgroups. If performance is replicated in a new sample, the screen could be used to screen patients hospitalized after emergency care for mental health risk. Routine screening could increase health and mental health equity and foster preventive care research and implementation.

Detecting Lucid Dreams by Electroencephalography and Eyebrow Movements.

Objective When metacognition arises during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, people experience lucid dreaming (LD). Studies on this phenomenon face different obstacles. For example, its standard verification protocol requires at least three types of sensors. We hypothesized that preagreed frontalis movements (PAFMs), as a sign of lucidity, could be seen on electroencephalography (EEG) during REM sleep. In this case, only one EEG sensor would be needed to verify LD. Method Under laboratory observation, five volunteers were instructed to induce LD, during which they needed to use the standard verification protocol with pre-agreed eye movements (PAEMs) and then immediately raise their eyebrows three times as a PAFM. Results All participants were able to send signals from a total of eight LDs using one or both methods. Preagreed frontalis movements and PAEMs were equally distinctive on most EEGs, but PAFM quality was strongly dependent on the accuracy of the method. Preagreed frontalis movements exhibited two types of EEG patterns and led to immediate awakening when LD was not stable. Discussion Though the outcomes show that PAFMs can be used to verify LD, this method was less consistent and apparent than PAEMs. Furthermore, accurate instructions are needed before using PAFMs. When polysomnography is unavailable, PAFMs can be applied, as it requires only one EEG sensor to detect REM sleep and consciousness simultaneously.

Efficient spatial and channel net for lane marker detection based on self-attention and row anchor

Lane detection is an important component of advanced driving aided system (ADAS). It is a combined component of the planning and control algorithms. Therefore, it has high standards for the detection accuracy and speed. Recently several researchers have worked extensively on this topic. An increasing number of researchers have been interested in self-attention-based lane detection. In difficult situations such as shadows, bright lights, and nights extracting global information is effective. Regardless of channel or spatial attention, it cannot independently extract all global information until a complicated model is used. Furthermore, it affects the run-time. However trading in this contradiction is challenging. In this study, a new lane identification model that combines channel and spatial self-attention was developed. Conv1d and Conv2d were introduced to extract the global information. The model is lightweight and efficient avoiding difficult model calculations and massive matrices, In particular obstacles can be overcome under certain difficult conditions. We used the Tusimple and CULane datasets as verification standards. The accuracy of the Tusimple benchmark was the highest at 95.49%. In the CULane dataset, the proposed model achieved 75.32% in F1, which is the highest result, particularly in difficult scenarios. For the Tusimple and CULane datasets, the proposed model achieved the best performance in terms of accuracy and speed.

Verification of Performance Standards for Construction Equipment in Terms of CO2 Emissions

Almost every civil engineering project involves heavy construction equipment to create earthworks. This in turn is connected with carbon dioxide emissions, which are hazardous to the environment, especially in densely populated areas. Strict control and regulation of emissions from construction equipment has already been introduced in Hong Kong. This paper presents the results of several years of field research on the performance of construction equipment (excavators). The comparative analysis concerns the data obtained during a field survey in relation to the outlays proposed in the catalogues of material outlays commonly used in Poland (KNR catalogues.) The presented problem fills in the gaps in research on the performance of construction equipment. The results of the study clearly show the discrepancy between theoretical data from the KNR and the actual use of construction equipment during the construction of underground sanitary networks. Apart from the excessive consumption of diesel fuel, sequentially increased CO2 emissions occur. The presented research results allow for the development of an innovative method for the optimal use of heavy construction equipment, thus reducing CO2 emissions. This study is a continuation of a pilot study conducted by the staff of the Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Science.

Comparison of the evaluation system for physical training in the armed forces of leading nato countries

The article highlights the verification complexes and standards for physical training in the Armed Forces of the leading NATO countries, studied and analyzed the content of physical training, the regulatory framework for the organization of physical training of the specified countries, the conduct of physical training checks and the evaluation system of both a military unit (unit) as a whole, as well personally of each serviceman of various branches and armies. The article also highlights the factors that determine the creation of a physical training system, its regulatory framework, the conditions for conducting a physical training check and evaluation system in the forces of the security and defense sector of Ukraine as a whole and in the Security Service of Ukraine in particular, taking into account the requirements of today and the experience of combat operations during full-scale aggression by the russian federation. A number of deficiencies in the system of physical training content, the regulatory framework for the organization of physical training, the inspection and assessment system of physical training in the Armed Forces of the leading NATO countries have been identified. Considered the possible implementation of foreign experience in the organization of physical training of the specified countries, the training of servicemen of the security and defense sector of Ukraine as a whole and Security services of Ukraine in particular. The topic of further research in this area has been determined.

A quantitative security evaluation and analysis model for web applications based on OWASP application security verification standard

In today's digital world, web applications are popular tools used by businesses. As more and more applications are deployed on the web, they are seen as increasingly attractive targets by malicious actors eager to exploit any security gaps present. Organizations are always at risk for potential vulnerabilities in their web-based software systems, which can lead to data loss, service interruption, and lack of trust. Therefore, organizations need to have an effective and efficient method for assessing and analyzing the security of acquired web-based software to ensure adequate confidence in its use. Quantitative security evaluation employs mathematical and computational techniques to express the security level that a system reaches. This research focuses on improving the quantitative analysis of web application security evaluation. We strive to unite the Open Web Application Security Project's (OWASP) Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) into a structural and analyzable model, which aims to efficiently evaluate web application security levels while providing meaningful insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

Can We Detect Bias in Political Fact-Checking? Evidence from a Spanish Case Study

ABSTRACT Political fact-checkers evaluate the truthfulness of politicians’ claims. This paper contributes to an emerging scholarly debate on whether fact-checkers treat political parties differently in a systematic manner depending on their ideology (bias). We first examine the available approaches to analyze bias and then present a new approach in two steps. First, we propose a logistic regression model to analyze the outcomes of fact-checks and calculate how likely each political party will obtain a truth score. We test our model with a sample of fact-checks from Newtral, a prominent Spanish fact-checker. Our model would signal bias under two assumptions: (a) all political parties are on average equally accurate in their statements; (b) the verification method gives precise instructions and is implemented systematically. We investigate this second assumption with a series of interviews with Newtral fact-checkers. We show that standard verification protocols are loosely implemented and therefore fact-checks reflect a set of journalistic decisions, rather than a bias in the statistical sense. We call for a more rigorous definition of verification methods as a pre-requisite for an unbiased assessment of politician’s claims.