Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA) Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Preparation Guide

Insurance costs are not typically considered a direct cost of a clinical trial. Instead, direct costs usually refer to expenses that can be directly attributed to the conduct of the trial and the care of the participants.

Patient care costs encompass expenses for medical services that patients receive related to the clinical trial, such as visits, treatments, and other necessary care. Site management costs relate to the operational expenses involved in coordinating the clinical trial at a given site, which is critical for trial execution. Research staff salaries are also classified as direct costs because the staff directly support the trial activities and management.

In clinical trials, insurance costs are often associated with protecting against potential liabilities and are generally considered indirect costs, as they may not vary directly with the trial's operations and may cover broader risks beyond those specific to the trial itself. Hence, identifying insurance costs as typically non-direct costs is aligned with standard budgeting practices in clinical research.