BIRN_ID Generator
The BIRN_ID generator can be used to assign a unique ID to subjects in any type of experiment. Subjects in experiments, whether human or animal, are often assigned random numbers as identifiers. When data are being shared and compiled across studies, these numbers must be unique. The BIRN_ID Generator can be used to assign a unique identifying 12-digit number for a subject.
The BIRN_ID Generator package generates unique HIPAA compliant IDs, a BIRN_ID, from scratch or from already-assigned local IDs. It is a Java application that runs on any platform. It uses a cryptographically-strong pseudo-random number generating algorithm, SHA1PRNG, provided by Sun, and a one-way MD5 hash.
The BIRN_ID Generator also can find a BIRN_ID for a given local ID when the link table and local ID are provided. The one-way hash ensures that the user cannot use a BIRN_ID alone to find a local ID and identify a subject.
For more information, please see the BIRN_ID Generator README file.