Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30 DAY-13]

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 more information on these

projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and

instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-7090.

Send written comments to Wilma Johnson, CDC Reports Clearance Officer,

1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should

be received within 30 days of this notice.

The following requests have been submitted for review since the

last publication date on May 29, 1996.

Proposed Project

1. Assessment of the Training Needs of Clinical and Environmental

Laboratories--New--The National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN) was

established in 1989 through a cooperative agreement between the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State

and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors (ASTPHLD). Its

mission is to enhance the quality of laboratory testing in the nation's

laboratories by providing training necessary for laboratory staff to

improve their knowledge and skills in all aspects of the testing

process. To accomplish

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this mission, seven NLTN offices were established at various sites

throughout the nation giving all states and territories access to

laboratory training through this Network.

NLTN staff was charged with (1) Assessing the training needs (2)

developing programs, (3) delivering training and, (4) evaluating the

effectiveness of the training. Staff in the seven offices must meet

unique needs in the geographical area for which they are responsible.

Assessing need is particularly important because more than 100,000

laboratories are doing 16,380 different tests of 631 analytes. NLTN

staff must determine the most efficient and effective means to provide

training where the greatest need exits.

Need for training in laboratories may be dependent on where the

laboratories are located and what population they serve. For example,

small laboratories in physicians' offices (POLs) may have very

different needs than large, independent laboratories, hospital or state

laboratories. Manufacturers develop different products for laboratories

that test in high volumes and can afford very sophisticated equipment

than for small laboratories that do a limited number of tests.

Education and training of personnel in the laboratories also very

considerably. Current training needs are vastly different for people

who have complete bachelor's degrees in medical technology or a science

and those who have no formal laboratory education.

This information collection request is for clearance of a bank of

questions from which NLTN staff may periodically select certain ones to

use in survey to assess needs--and for flexibility to develop questions

in specified formats to address specific practices related to the many

tests available. This will allow the NLTN to focus on the appropriate

lab type, target audience and test.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avg.

Number of burden/

Respondents Number of responses/ response

respondents respondent (in

hrs.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laboratory........................... 2,800 1 0.5

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The total annual burden is 1400. Send comments to Desk officer,

CDC; Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building,

Room 10235; Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: June 14, 1996.

Wilma G. Johnson,

Acting Associate Director of Policy Planning And Evaluation, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 96-15718 Filed 6-19-96; 8:45 am]

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