Studies which fall under any exempt category as defined by 45 CFR 46.104(d) may qualify for an exempt review.  An exemption cannot be granted for research that uses prisoners and for research with children that involves survey or interview procedures or observation of public behavior, unless the research involves observations of public behavior when the investigator(s) does not participate in the activities being observed.  If the IRB finds the study is not exempt, it must go through an expedited or full board review.  While research activities in which the only involvement of human subjects will be in one or more of the following categories are exempt from the 45 CFR 46 regulations, they must still be submitted to the IRB for their review and approval.