[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25576-25577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9564]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-05-0680]


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 404-371-5983 
and send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected].
    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)

[[Page 25577]]

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. Written 
comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP), Severe Acute 
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) MPEP OMB No. 0920-0680--Extension--Division 
of Laboratory Systems, Center for Health Information and Services 
(CoCHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    To support our mission of improving public health and preventing 
disease through continuously improving laboratory practices, the Model 
Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP), Division of Laboratory Systems, 
Coordinating Center for Health Information and Services in 
collaboration with National Center for Infectious Disease, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention intends to provide a new SARS-associated 
Coronavirus testing performance evaluation program (SARS MPEP). This 
program will offer external performance evaluation (PE) for SARS 
antibody (Ab) testing and SARS Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) Reverse 
Transcriptase--Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing. A SARS 
outbreak or epidemic could recur at any time. Therefore, it is 
imperative that the CDC ensure all state public health department 
laboratories, Laboratory Response Network laboratories and other 
laboratories designated by CDC remain proficient in performing SARS 
testing. For this reason, it is of critical public health importance, 
at this time, that the CDC develop and maintain a performance 
evaluation program for SARS. Participation in PE programs is expected 
to lead to improved SARS testing performance because participants have 
the opportunity to identify areas for improvement which will help to 
ensure accurate testing as a basis for development of SARS prevention 
and intervention strategies.
    This external quality assessment program will be made available at 
no cost (for receipt of sample panels) to 54 state laboratories. This 
program will offer laboratories/testing sites an opportunity for:
    (1) Assuring that the laboratories/testing sites are providing 
accurate tests through external quality assessment,
    (2) Improving testing quality through self-evaluation in a 
nonregulatory environment,
    (3) Testing well characterized samples from a source outside the 
test kit manufacturer,
    (4) Discovering potential testing problems so that laboratories/
testing sites can adjust procedures to eliminate them,
    (5) Comparing individual laboratory/testing site results to others 
at state level, and
    (6) Consulting with CDC staff to discuss testing issues.
    Participants in the MPEP SARS will be required to submit results 
twice/year after testing mailed performance evaluation samples.

                                       Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of     Frequency of     burden per     Total burden
                    Form name                       respondents      responses     response  (in    (in hours)
                                                                                      hours)
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SARS Testing Results Booklet....................              54               2           10/60              18
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............              18
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    Dated: May 6, 2005.
Joan F. Karr,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-9564 Filed 5-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P