I presume you are referring to Civil Records (i.e. Certs) ?
In the GRO Research room you can search index books of Births, deaths or marriage and if you find possible matches you give the details to the GRO staff and they deliver a research cert to you. The Index books show the same details as the family search BMD Index - i.e. name, year/quarter, registration district, volume number & page. These references are then used by the by the GRO people to locate the correct details, create the photocopy it, and bring it your desk. Members of the public dont have access to the registers in the research room.
Shane