Do any of you have experience using professional tracking services to locate
subjects?  These services commonly are used to track down debtors, parents
owing child support, etc.  Our IRB just approved -- after lengthy debate --
a request by a researcher to use such a service to track subjects in a
longitudinal study.  The service allows research staff to access their data
base via modem to search using SSN, DOB, etc.  The service isn't given any
subject info.  The subjects give consent to be re-contacted throughout the
study.

There will be a request by another reseacher before us in the next couple of
months to use a service to contact children of subjects who participated in
a study 25 years ago.

Any shared experiences or thoughts would be appreciated.

Vanita Miller
IRB Administrator