Editorial and Review Process

Editorial and Review Process

The editorial process begins immediately upon manuscript submission. Each manuscript first undergoes an initial pre-check, which is typically completed within one week. This stage consists of two sequential evaluations: a managerial pre-check followed by an editorial pre-check. The purpose of these assessments is to ensure that the manuscript falls within the journal's scope and complies with the journal's submission requirements and editorial standards before proceeding to formal peer review.

Manuscripts that successfully pass the pre-check proceed to the peer review stage, which is typically completed within four weeks. During this stage, the manuscript undergoes a thorough scientific evaluation by external experts to provide the critical feedback required for the editor's decision. The Journal operates a double-blind peer-review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least three independent reviewers with expertise in hematology and/or transfusion medicine who have experience in conducting and publishing research in the relevant field. The initial peer review is generally completed within four weeks.

Following the completion of peer review, the manuscript enters the editorial decision stage, which typically takes 3–7 days. During this stage, the handling editor carefully considers the reviewers' comments and recommendations before making a decision. The manuscript may be accepted, rejected, or returned to the authors for revision. If revision is requested, authors are generally given 8–12 weeks to revise and resubmit their manuscript. Depending on the extent of the revisions, the revised manuscript may be sent for an additional round of peer review or evaluated directly by the handling editor before a final decision is made.

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, it enters the production stage, which typically takes 3–4 weeks. During this stage, the manuscript undergoes language editing, copyediting, typesetting, and author proof review to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency. After the authors approve the final proofs, the manuscript is prepared for publication.

The entire editorial process, from initial submission to final publication, typically takes approximately 12–16 weeks, although the timeline may vary depending on the duration of the peer review process and the extent of any revisions required.