[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5785-5786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3244]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC), 
Meeting

    In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) announces the following committee meeting:

    Name: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee.
    Times and Dates: 2-5 p.m., March 5, 1996; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 
March 6, 1996.
    Place: CDC, Auditorium B, Building 2, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
    Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.
    Purpose: This committee is charged with providing scientific and 
technical advice and guidance to the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Director, CDC, 
regarding the need for, and the nature of, revisions to the 
standards under which clinical laboratories are regulated; the 
impact of proposed revisions to the standards; and the modification 
of the standards to accommodate technological advances.
    Matters To Be Discussed: The agenda will include an orientation 
for new members regarding the roles and responsibilities of an 
advisory committee member; a CDC update on the status of the 
publication of proposed rules for cytology, Accurate and Precise 
Technology, and waiver; a Health Care Financing Administration 
update on implementation of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement 
Amendments; a Federal Drug Administration update; and presentations 
on the use of automated cytology instruments.

    Demonstrations will be provided of computer-based cytology 
proficiency testing (PT) developed in cooperative agreement with 
CDC. A major impediment in making cytology PT available on a 
national basis has been and continues to be the difficulty in 
obtaining a sufficient number of properly referenced glass slides. 
Computer-based programs offer the advantage of providing for the 
accumulation and assembly of sufficient numbers of well-documented, 
referenced cytology preparations that can be used for testing 
individuals in a consistent and uniform manner. In December 1993, 
the CLIAC recommended that studies be conducted to evaluate the 
effectiveness of 

[[Page 5786]]
both glass slide PT programs and programs employing alternative media, 
including computer-based PT programs.
    CLIAC solicits oral and written testimony on the use of 
computer-based cytology PT programs. Requests to make an oral 
presentation should be submitted in writing to the contact person 
listed below by close of business, March 1, 1996. Written comments 
should not exceed five single-spaced, typed pages in length and 
should be received by the contact person listed below by close of 
business, February 29, 1996.
    Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

    For Further Information Contact:
John C. Ridderhof, Dr. P.H., Division of Laboratory Systems, Public 
Health Practice Program Office, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Mailstop 
G-25, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, telephone (770) 488-7660, Fax (770) 
488-7663.

    Dated: February 8, 1996.
Carolyn J. Russell,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 96-3244 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-M