What is being updated?

As part of Castor’s mission to enable better clinical research, we regularly update our products to ensure optimal performance.  In release 2024.1.0 of our Castor Connect app (15-Jul-2024), we plan on doing exactly this to our activation and security system to ensure continued compatibility with current and future versions of Android and iOS.

What is being updated?

In release 2024.1.0 we will be updating a part of the app responsible for activation and security to a new version, as well as the way the app loads surveys. Castor will formally test and validate the application as part of our standard release process and expects that overall performance of the app will be improved after the update, but we have already identified specific and limited impacts of the update on users that we want to inform customers and sites about in advance.

How will this impact users?

The design/user interface of the app will not change as part of this update - with no expected impact on any existing or pending screen reports, ethics approvals etc. However, when participants open their app for the first time after the update has been applied - they will be unable to access the app using their biometric login and will be required to log in using the PIN they created when they activated the app. Once they have logged in using their PIN, they will be prompted to set up their biometric login in the same way they were when first activating the app.

For participants who use their Castor PIN regularly this will not be an issue, however we are aware some participants may have set their PIN when first activating the app and then proceeded to use biometrics exclusively from that point forward. This means they may not remember their PIN, requiring a PIN reset.
 

1. Participants can request PIN resets directly from the PIN entry screen using the ‘Forgot PIN function’ on the login screen:
    

2. If requested directly by the participant via the app - a PIN reset request email will be sent to relevant users with permissions for that participant’s site and indicated on the CDMS participant view
   
   
    
3. Regardless of whether the patient initiated the request: site personnel can action PIN resets in CDMS from within the participant record.

4. A PIN reset email will be sent to the registered email address of the participant; on using the link on their device or scanning the QR code contained therein - the app will open automatically and allow them to configure a new PIN for future use

How will users know they are on the new version?

Participants can see which version of the app they are running at the bottom of the log-in and home screens of the app. The displayed version will be 2024.1.0 or higher. (e.g. 2024.1.0.1/2024.1.1)

Supporting participants ahead of this update

Participants are already able to request a PIN reset from within the app today. For participants who suspect they may not be able to remember their PIN when these changes take effect, asking them to reset or update it in advance may be helpful and reduce any likelihood of an influx of requests at the time of release.

Support Team

If you have any questions, please contact our Support Team at Castor Support support@castoredc.com.