The literature search should have helped you with this. NIH definition: “The medical or social standards determining whether a person may or may not be allowed to enter a clinical trial. These criteria are based on such factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. It is important to note that inclusion and exclusion criteria are not used to reject people personally, but rather to identify appropriate participants and keep them safe.” From http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/info/glossary, accessed on Jan 6, 2009.