# DOI Retraction Check (Crossref, Retraction Watch) (`sashasecrier/doi-retraction-check`) Actor

Is this paper retracted or corrected? Give DOIs, get a verdict (ok / corrected / expression_of_concern / retracted), the list of updates, title, journal, year and citation count. Official Crossref API, no key, no author data.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/sashasecrier/doi-retraction-check.md
- **Developed by:** [Sasha Secrier](https://apify.com/sashasecrier) (community)
- **Security:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## DOI Retraction Check (Crossref, Retraction Watch)

Before an AI agent, a literature review or a reference list cites a paper: is it retracted, corrected or under an expression of concern? Give DOIs and get one row each with a plain verdict. No API key. No author data is returned.

### Output

```json
{
  "doi": "10.1016/s0140-6736(97)11096-0",
  "found": true,
  "verdict": "retracted",
  "title": "RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children",
  "journal": "The Lancet",
  "year": 1998,
  "citedByCount": 2000,
  "updates": [
    {"type": "correction", "source": "retraction-watch", "year": 2004},
    {"type": "retraction", "source": "retraction-watch", "year": 2010}
  ],
  "summary": "10.1016/s0140-6736(97)11096-0: retracted - correction (2004), retraction (2010)"
}
```

### Verdicts

- `retracted`: Crossref reports a retraction, withdrawal or removal (or the title is marked RETRACTED/WITHDRAWN).
- `expression_of_concern`: an expression of concern is reported.
- `corrected`: a correction, erratum, addendum or similar is reported.
- `ok`: nothing of the above is reported by Crossref. This means "no signal", not a guarantee that the paper is sound.
- `not_found`: the DOI is not in Crossref (it may be registered with another agency, e.g. DataCite).
- `unknown`: the source failed (reason in `error`).

### Input

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `dois` | DOIs, bare or as `https://doi.org/...` links. Max 100 per run. |

### Good for

- AI research agents and RAG pipelines that must not cite retracted work.
- Auditing a bibliography before submission.
- Scheduled re-checks of a reference list.

### Data source

[Crossref REST API](https://www.crossref.org/documentation/retrieve-metadata/rest-api/), including Retraction Watch data that Crossref publishes. This Actor is independent and not affiliated with Crossref or Retraction Watch. Coverage depends on what publishers and Retraction Watch have reported.

### Pricing

Pay per result (one row = one DOI). See the pricing box on this page.

# Actor input Schema

## `dois` (type: `array`):

DOIs to check, bare or as https://doi.org/ links, e.g. 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)11096-0. Up to 100 per run.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "dois": [
    "10.1016/S0140-6736(97)11096-0",
    "10.1038/nature14539"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("sashasecrier/doi-retraction-check").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("sashasecrier/doi-retraction-check").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call sashasecrier/doi-retraction-check --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,sashasecrier/doi-retraction-check"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/NEHts0Bdvds5FBzC3/builds/jkfSlH3eJHM3BWaDo/openapi.json