What does "substantive responses" indicate regarding hit confirmations?

"Substantive responses" in the context of hit confirmations refers to the variety of responses that can be received after an inquiry is made regarding a potential match or alert. This term encompasses all types of meaningful replies that provide significant information about the hit.

In this case, the correct answer indicates that substantive responses can include positive confirmations, negative confirmations, or even time estimates. A positive confirmation means that the inquiry has been validated, and the individual or entity in question is indeed a match. A negative confirmation indicates that the individual or entity is not a match. Additionally, time estimates may be provided when the confirmation or investigation is still in process, giving a timeframe for when a definitive answer might be available.

This breadth of potential responses highlights the thorough nature of hit confirmations and ensures that investigators have the necessary information to proceed in their evaluations and decisions. The other options are too limited, focusing solely on either positive or negative confirmations, which do not encompass all the possible substantive interactions that can occur in this context.