[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 133 (Thursday, July 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 39702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15630]



[[Page 39702]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-08-07BN]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-5960 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected]. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC, or by fax to (202) 395-6974. 
Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Study to Assess Hepatitis Risk (STAHR)--New--National Center for 
AIDS Viral Hepatitis and TB Prevention, (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne infection in the 
United States. Approximately 3.2 million persons are chronically 
infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
    Identifying and reaching persons at risk for HCV infection is 
critical to prevent infection. Currently the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) monitor the national incidence of acute 
hepatitis C through passive surveillance of acute, symptomatic cases of 
laboratory confirmed hepatitis C cases. However, only a small group of 
people with acute infection exhibit symptoms (<25%). Passive 
surveillance only captures a small fraction of acutely infected people. 
Injection drug users (IDUs) are the primary risk group for acute 
hepatitis C. Thus, it is necessary to consider strategies other than 
passive surveillance for incidence monitoring. One such strategy is to 
conduct serial cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys among populations 
at increased risk of infection. Better methods of identification of 
persons at risk will enhance current surveillance efforts.
    The purpose of the proposed study is to develop and test different 
methods to recruit a sample of young IDUs at risk for HCV infection. 
These recruitment methods will be compared and contrasted to identify a 
methodology to be used in ongoing serial cross-sectional seroprevalence 
surveys. CDC is requesting approval for two years.
    Working with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), the 
project will recruit a total of 1000 young IDUs during the 2 years 
using several methods. These methods are street outreach, respondent 
driven sampling and venue based. They are to be conducted in a sexually 
transmitted disease clinic and syringe exchange program. Young IDUs who 
consent to participate will be administered an eligibility interview 
questionnaire by a trained field staff member. If found eligible, the 
participant will take an audio-computer assisted self interview that 
includes questions on drug use and sexual behavior, HCV and Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status, knowledge of HCV, and missed 
opportunities for hepatitis prevention. The project will also collect 
blood samples from each consenting participant to test for HCV 
infection and hepatitis A and B vaccination without cost. Participants 
needing medical and/or drug treatment services will be referred to the 
appropriate services.
    Participation in the data collection is voluntary and there is no 
cost to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annual 
burden hours are 816.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
              Respondents                         Form               Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Young IDUs............................  Screener................            1000               1            5/60
Eligible young IDUs...................  Survey..................             800               1           55/60
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    Dated: July 1, 2008.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E8-15630 Filed 7-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P