Clinical trial provenance · Practical guide
PubMed vs ClinicalTrials.gov: why do the sources differ?
ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed serve different purposes, so their records should be related carefully rather than treated as interchangeable.
Which source is the right one?Neither source replaces the other. A registry describes the trial record; PubMed indexes publications. A provenance review records what each source says and only asserts a relationship when the evidence supports it.
What to look for
Exact NCT identifiers are stronger than title similarity
Absence of a linked publication is not proof that none exists
Different scopes are not automatically conflicts
When a Provenance Pack is useful
Use a Provenance Pack when a decision depends on connecting registry facts to publications without overstating the relationship.
This method assesses evidence lineage and package integrity. It does not establish clinical truth, FDA validation, regulatory certification, GxP or 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.