# \[API\] Retraction status not confirmed at retractiondatabase.org

**URL:** <https://community.crossref.org/t/api-retraction-status-not-confirmed-at-retractiondatabase-org/15831>\
**Category:** Metadata quality improvements\
**Tags:** metadata-quality, retractions, retraction\_watch\
**Created:** [19 May 2026 08:36 UTC](https://community.crossref.org/t/api-retraction-status-not-confirmed-at-retractiondatabase-org/15831 "2026-05-19T08:36:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gcabanac](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.crossref.org/gcabanac/32/2217_2.png) [@gcabanac](https://community.crossref.org/u/gcabanac)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2026 08:36 UTC](https://community.crossref.org/t/api-retraction-status-not-confirmed-at-retractiondatabase-org/15831/1 "2026-05-19T08:36:21Z")

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I’m working on [https://doi.org/10.1148/85.3.474](https://doi.org/10.1148/85.3.474) that is **marked as retracted** as per [https://api.crossref.org/works?filter=updates:10.1148/85.3.474](https://api.crossref.org/works?filter=updates:10.1148/85.3.474) ([archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260519082401/https://api.crossref.org/works?filter=updates:10.1148/85.3.474)), see highlighted line :

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/crossref/original/2X/0/0be108feb2b5785d9f3a3b37637618b3917419f8.png)

I failed to confirm this information at [https://retractiondatabase.org](https://retractiondatabase.org): this record is associated to an expression of concern (visible in the JSON above: update-to[1]) but **there is no mention of a retraction**.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/crossref/original/2X/c/c9273b0c969f8482687a034d32a798669851726c.png)

The CSV file at [https://gitlab.com/crossref/retraction-watch-data](https://gitlab.com/crossref/retraction-watch-data) does not mention any retraction either:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/crossref/original/2X/5/5329579a5246420b5c38b861030744958bf18169.png)

**My question:** Why is this record marked with an ‘update’ of type ‘retraction’ from the source ‘retraction-watch’ (screenshot 1)?

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**Author:** ![Shayn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.crossref.org/shayn/32/57_2.png) [@Shayn](https://community.crossref.org/u/Shayn)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2026 16:00 UTC](https://community.crossref.org/t/api-retraction-status-not-confirmed-at-retractiondatabase-org/15831/2 "2026-05-19T16:00:13Z")

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Hi Guillaume,

We took a look at the logs for the retraction watch csv file, and the RetractionNature value for record 19937 was changed from "retraction’ to “expression of concern” on 2026-03-26. Prior to that, the retraction watch database did show ‘retraction’ for this item.

But, instead of modifying the existing update in our API, we added a second update assertion with the same record ID, same date/time, same source info, but just the ‘type’ and ‘label’ values changed.

 ![Screenshot 2026-05-19 at 11.56.43 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/crossref/original/2X/1/11cb4337685d0c9ba0bbc2d0b80482beb9687aec.png)

I’ve asked our technical team to look into this behavior and ideally adjust how we handle changes or corrections in retraction watch records to overwrite rather than duplicate the assertion in our API.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

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**Author:** ![gcabanac](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.crossref.org/gcabanac/32/2217_2.png) [@gcabanac](https://community.crossref.org/u/gcabanac)\
**Post date:** [20 May 2026 20:32 UTC](https://community.crossref.org/t/api-retraction-status-not-confirmed-at-retractiondatabase-org/15831/3 "2026-05-20T20:32:28Z")

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Thanks for digging into this matter.

Overwriting instead of complementing (the current situation) seems more appropriate indeed, so as to reflect the latest state of the Retraction Watch Database.

Please keep me updated 🙂

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**Author:** ![ifarley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.crossref.org/ifarley/32/44_2.png) [@ifarley](https://community.crossref.org/u/ifarley)\
**Post date:** [8 June 2026 19:55 UTC](https://community.crossref.org/t/api-retraction-status-not-confirmed-at-retractiondatabase-org/15831/4 "2026-06-08T19:55:09Z")

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Hello @gcabanac . I wanted to note that you may follow our progress on this improvement here: [https://crossref.atlassian.net/browse/CR-2746](https://crossref.atlassian.net/browse/CR-2746). We have set this issue as a medium priority, so likely not the quickest turnaround. Shayn or I will update you when we have more information.

Thanks again,

Isaac