Information about specific AAHRPP clients (and the third parties with whom they do business or from whom they receive information) is confidential. This applies to an organization that participates at any level of the accreditation process, including potential clients that have only indicated their intent to apply for accreditation. The only information that may be released by an AAHRPP representative about the accreditation status of a participating organization is whether the organization is or is not accredited. AAHRPP client confidential information includes (but is not limited to) all information regarding the client's business, personnel, facilities, management, technical and scientific information, and deliberations or comments originating from the accreditation process, as well as all information regarding third parties with whom the organization does business or from whom the organization receives information.

All AAHRPP client confidential information made available by an organization to AAHRPP or its representatives is kept confidential to the extent required by law. No representative (e.g., staff, application reviewer, site visitor) may remove or retain copies of any organization’s confidential documents without the permission of the organization. AAHRPP site visitors do not retain copies of any organization’s confidential documents beyond the duration of the accreditation/reaccreditation process. No AAHRPP representative may disclose any of their findings to any person or agency except AAHRPP, except to the extent required by applicable law. AAHRPP representatives who fail to adhere to this policy may be discharged. In addition, AAHRPP may pursue legal action against them.

Organizations must comply with all legal and ethical requirements for disclosing any research records with participants' personally identifiable information, and must follow appropriate procedures to protect the confidentiality of records. Without limiting the foregoing, an organization should "de-identify" records provided to or made available to AAHRPP, and may not provide AAHRPP with records or information that are not de-identified. AAHRPP will not accept, hold, maintain, or disclose records with research participants’ personally identifiable information. AAHRPP and its representatives will hold all files and records in confidence, and no confidential data will be released by AAHRPP except pursuant to direction by the Board of Directors, a court order, a valid search warrant, or as otherwise required by applicable law.