Managing Discarded
The Discarded tab collects all duplicate pairs that you or a team member have dismissed - either from the true duplicates list or the possible duplicates list. Discarding a pair means you judged the two records to be different studies, and both remain active in your project.
This page explains how to review discarded pairs and undo decisions when needed.
What the Discarded tab shows
From the Deduplication section, click the Discarded tab. Each entry shows:
- The two study records in the pair
- The similarity score Medusa originally assigned
- Who discarded the pair and when
- Whether it originated from the true duplicates or possible duplicates queue
When to review discarded pairs
Check the Discarded tab if:
- A colleague flagged a potential duplicate that you previously dismissed
- You realize after screening that two records describe the same study
- You want to audit all deduplication decisions before finalizing your PRISMA counts
Undoing a discard
To reverse a discard decision, click the pair to expand it and then click Undo Discard. The pair returns to either the true duplicates or possible duplicates queue, depending on its original similarity score, and is available for review again.
Undoing a discard does not automatically confirm the pair as a duplicate. It simply moves the pair back into the review queue so you can make a new decision.
Confirming a discarded pair as a duplicate
If you open a discarded pair and now believe the two records are the same study, you can confirm the duplicate directly from the Discarded tab without going through the undo step. Click Confirm as Duplicate to deactivate one of the records and remove the pair from the Discarded tab.
Confirming a duplicate from the Discarded tab immediately deactivates one record. Make sure you have reviewed both records carefully before proceeding.
Discarded pairs and PRISMA counts
Discarded pairs count toward your project's deduplication audit trail. The PRISMA flow diagram in the Project Management section reflects the number of records removed as duplicates, so accurate decisions in the deduplication step are important for reporting.