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TB Notes NewsletterReturn to Main Menu - TB Notes 2, 2007No. 2, 2007SURVEILLANCE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, and OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS B RANCH UPDATES
RVCT RevisionThe Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) is the national TB surveillance form. Data from the RVCT are used to create the DTBE Annual Surveillance Report and to monitor national TB trends. The last major revision of the RVCT was in 1993. Since that time, the epidemiology of TB has changed in terms of risk factors, new drug treatments, and enhanced laboratory capacity for diagnostic tests. In 2001, DTBE initiated a comprehensive review of existing variables and instructions for the RVCT. A DTBE-sponsored work group with nearly 30 members from CDC, 15 TB programs, and the National TB Controllers Association (NTCA) convened a series of 26 conference calls to draft the next revision to the RVCT. The group collaborated to consider variable additions, deletions, and revisions based on surveillance significance, ease of data collection, and ability to yield meaningful and useful data. The revision also benefited from review and consultation with TB experts active in research and field services. The RVCT revision work group finalized their working draft in December 2006 and forwarded the draft to DTBE in January 2007. There was broad consensus on which variables and which instructions should be revised, with a few remaining issues for which DTBE guidance was requested. DTBE is currently reviewing the draft and making final suggestions prior to sharing the draft with partners. In March 2007, the draft was made available for review by the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET), NTCA, TB Controllers, Surveillance Coordinators, and other stakeholders. Partners will provide feedback on the revision and DTBE will make final decisions based on comments. The RVCT revision will be field-tested and must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance process by October 2007. —Reported by Carla Winston, PhD 10th Semiannual Meeting of the TB Epidemiologic Studies ConsortiumThe 10th Semiannual Meeting of the TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC) convened on January 24-25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The primary purpose of the TBESC is to conduct epidemiologic, behavioral, economic, laboratory, and operational research in TB prevention and control. Over 110 persons participated in the meeting. Attendees included Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff, TBESC principal investigators, project coordinators, and project specific personnel. This meeting had a more research oriented focus than previous meetings with scientific presentations and discussions on research topics that were identified as a top priority by TBESC. In addition, consortium members and CDC staff gave updates on the status of ongoing TBESC research projects and activities. Administrative and fiscal issues were also discussed. Participants heard presentations from CDC staff, TBESC members, and invited guests on a broad array of topics that included--
The 10th semiannual meeting represents the midway point or 5 years of the TBESC. This is a very exciting time for the consortium with a number of its studies in the data analysis phase and others beginning to report results and describe implications for TB programs. For more information on the TBESC. —Reported by Indhira Gnanasekaran, MPA
Last Reviewed: 05/18/2008 |
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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention |
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