Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56795-56796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27468]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control And Prevention
[60Day-00-02]


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, the Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention is providing opportunity for public comment on proposed data 
collection 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) 639-7090.
    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 for other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, 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 Projects

    1. Surveillance and Evaluation of Blood Donors Positive for Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Antibody or HIV Antigen Surveillance and 
Evaluation of Blood Donors Positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus 
(HIV) Antibody or HIV Antigen (0920-0329)--Extension--National Center 
for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP). In 1987, the President 
directed the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to 
determine the nationwide incidence of, to predict the future of, and to 
determine the extent to which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 
present in various segments of our population. In response, CDC formed 
an epidemiological team to summarize existing information. An extensive 
review of published and unpublished data led to the conclusion that 
even though there is information suggesting a very large number of 
Americans were infected, there was no substitute for carefully and 
scientifically obtained incidence and prevalence data. The need to 
monitor HIV seroprevalence existed on the national and at the state and 
local levels for public health management: Targeting and evaluating 
prevention programs, planning future health care needs and determining 
health policy.
    On a national basis, HIV seroprevalence projects in 1987 consisted 
of monitoring the HIV status of: Civilian applicants for military 
service; blood donors, including follow-up risk factor evaluation in 
seropositives; and Job Corps entrants. HIV prevalence was studied in 
settings of special public health interest including selected colleges 
and prisons, among health care workers in hospital emergency rooms and 
among Native Americans and homeless persons. Other national data 
sources were examined, such as cohort studies of groups at risk, 
including homosexual and bisexual men and IV drug users, providing 
information on knowledge of AIDS and

[[Page 56796]]

risk behaviors, changes in behavior, and incidence of HIV infection.
    In 1987, OMB approved the ``Family of HIV Seroprevalence Surveys'' 
(0920-0232). These surveys included seven seroprevalence surveys that 
involved interaction with individuals (non-blinded surveys). One of 
these surveys was the surveillance and evaluation of blood donors.
    The objectives of this study are to: (1) Estimate the prevalence 
and incidence of HIV infection among blood donors at participating 
blood centers; (2) evaluate the characteristics of infected donors to 
strengthen the effectiveness of the donor screening and deferral 
processes; (3) analyze the risk behavior characteristics of infected 
donors to assess distribution and trends of HIV; (4) monitor additional 
human immunodeficiency viruses, HIV genetic variation, and other 
infections relevant to the epidemiology of HIV among U.S. blood donors 
and seroconverted recipients; (5) estimate the risk of HIV transmission 
from screened blood; (6) and evaluate new tests to decrease 
transmission by window period donors.
    In 1993 and 1996, OMB again approved for 3 years each, the 
surveillance and evaluation of blood donors who test positive for Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Antibody and their needle-sharing and 
sexual partners (0920-0329). This request is for an additional 3-year 
approval. The CDC anticipates 125 positive donors will enroll annually 
in this study (based upon previous 3 year enrollment rates and 
epidemiological progress of the disease). The interview takes 
approximately 1 hour to complete for those who agree to the interview 
and 10 minutes to complete for those who refuse to enroll. The total 
cost to the respondent is $8,206.19 over the 3-year period.

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                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden
                   Respondents                       Number of      responses/     response  (in   Total burden
                                                    respondents     Respondent        hours)        (in hours)
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Blood donors (interviewed)......................             375               1             1.0             375
Blood donors (refuse interview).................             275               1            0.16              44
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    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          419.00
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    Dated: October 14, 1999.
Nancy Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-27468 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]
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