[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14243-14244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6872]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-03-51]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 
Performance Evaluation Program for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Non-
Tuberculosis Mycobacterium (NTM) Drug Susceptibility Testing--New--
Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
    As part of the continuing effort to support both domestic and 
global public health objectives for treatment of tuberculosis (TB), 
prevention of multi-drug resistance and surveillance programs, the 
Division of Laboratory Systems seeks to collect information from 
domestic private clinical and public health laboratories twice per 
year. Participation and information collections from international 
laboratories will be limited to those

[[Page 14244]]

which have public health responsibilities for tuberculosis drug 
susceptibility testing and approval by their national tuberculosis 
program. While the overall number of cases of TB in the U.S. has 
decreased, rates still remain high among foreign-born persons, 
prisoners, homeless populations, and individuals infected with HIV in 
major metropolitan areas. The rate of TB cases detected in foreign-born 
persons has been reported to be almost nine times higher than the rate 
among the U.S. born population. CDC's goal to eliminate TB will be 
virtually impossible without considerable effort in assisting heavy 
disease burden countries in the reduction of tuberculosis. The M. 
tuberculosis/NTM program supports this role by monitoring the level of 
performance and practices among laboratories performing M. tuberculosis 
susceptibility within the U.S. as well as internationally to ensure 
high-quality laboratory testing, resulting in accurate and reliable 
results.
    Information collected in this program will include the 
susceptibility test results of primary and secondary drugs, 
concentrations, and test methods performed by laboratories on a set of 
challenge isolates sent twice yearly.
    A portion of the response instrument will collect demographic data 
such as laboratory type and the number of tests performed annually. By 
providing an evaluation program to assess the ability of the 
laboratories to test for drug resistant M. tuberculosis and selected 
strains of NTM, laboratories will also have a self-assessment tool to 
aid in maximizing their skills in susceptibility testing. Information 
obtained from laboratories on susceptibility testing practices and 
procedures will assist with determining variables related to good 
performance, with assessing areas for training and with developing 
practice standards. There is no cost to respondents.

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                                                                     Number of    Average Burden
                   Respondents                       Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondenst     (in hours)      (in hours)
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XXXX............................................             165              30           30/60            82.5
YYYY............................................             165              30           30/60            82.5
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    Dated: March 12, 2003.
Thomas Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-6872 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P