How do I complete full-text screening on Rayyan?

Rayyan makes it easy to complete title, abstract, and full-text screening using distinct stages—so you can stay organized and in control at every step. Here's how to add and complete the Full Text Screening (FTS) stage:

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Finish Title and Abstract Screening
   Ensure you've completed the TiAb stage (including resolving any conflicts if needed).

2. Open Full Text Screening
   Navigate to the Full Text Screening tab in your review.
   
   
   

3. Enable Full Text Screening
   Click Enable to activate the FTS stage.
   
   
   

4. Add References to Full Text Screening
   Click Add Data. You can do this multiple times if needed. 
   
   
   Select which references to include from the previous stage—Included, Maybe, or Labeled.
   

   💡 Tip: Want to add articles with a specific label? Choose the Labeled Data option, click Choose Labeled Data, and pick the labels you'd like. Rayyan will show how many articles have each label, then add all matching ones.
   
   
   

5. Upload Full-Text PDFs (Optional)
   Click Upload to attach full-text PDFs. You can upload multiple files at once. Learn more about bulk PDF management here.
   
   
   

6. Start Screening Full Texts
   Click on any uploaded PDF to open it. Use the bottom toolbar to:

   • Take final Include or Exclude decisions

   • Add labels, exclusion reasons, or notes
     
     

🔄 Removing Articles from Full Text Screening

• To remove one article: Click the gear icon beside the article, then select Remove Article.
  

• To remove multiple: Check the boxes next to articles and click Remove Articles at the top.
  

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who can add references to the Full Text Screening stage?
The Review Owner and Collaborators can add references. Only the Review Owner can disable Blind Mode.

How does Blind Mode affect what I see when adding references?

• With Blind Mode On, you'll only see your own decisions—so only your Included/Maybe articles will be eligible.

• With Blind Mode Off, all team decisions are visible, and references marked as Included or Maybe by anyone will appear.
  
  

Can I use labels to choose what to add?
Absolutely! Assign a label (like Full Text) to selected references during TiAb screening. Then, when adding data, select Labeled Data to include just those references.

Why do all articles show as “Undecided” after adding to Full Text Screening?
Full Text Screening is a separate stage. All articles will appear as Undecided regardless of their TiAb decisions. This helps you track progress independently across stages. (Don’t worry—labels, reasons, and notes carry over.)

Do I need to upload PDFs to complete screening?
Nope! You can screen based on full-texts you read elsewhere (e.g., journal sites). Just find the matching reference in Rayyan and take your decision—even without uploading the file.

What if I update a decision in TiAb after adding data to Full Text Screening?
No problem—just add data again! Rayyan will skip any references already added to avoid duplicates.

📅 Interested in a webinar?

We're excited to invite you to our upcoming Rayyan webinars! Whether you're new to the platform or looking to deepen your knowledge, our webinars are designed to help you get the most out of Rayyan. Register here to secure your spot!

🆘 Need Assistance?

Start by browsing our FAQs for quick answers. Still stuck? Submit a support request through the Help Center.
When reaching out, please include:

• The name of your review

• Steps you took before encountering the issue

• A screenshot (if available)