Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled “Enterprise Laboratory Information Management System” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on June 09, 2023, to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and

(e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639–7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395–5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Enterprise Laboratory Information Management System (OMB Control No. 0920–1309, Exp. 11/30/2023)—Revision—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

The collection of specimen information designated for testing by the CDC occurs on a regular and recurring basis (multiple times per day) using an electronic PDF file called the CDC Specimen Submission 50.34 Form or an electronic XSLX file called the Global File Accessioning Template. Hospitals, doctor's offices, medical clinics, commercial testing labs, universities, state public health laboratories, U.S. Federal institutions and foreign institutions use the CDC Specimen Submission 50.34 Form when submitting a single specimen to CDC Infectious Diseases laboratories for testing. The CDC Specimen Submission 50.34 Form consists of over 200 data entry fields (of which five are mandatory fields that must be completed by the submitter) that captures information about the specimen being sent to the CDC for testing. The type of data captured on the 50.34 Form identifies the origin of the specimen (human, animal, food, environmental, medical device or biologic), CDC test order name/code, specimen information, patient information (as applicable), animal information (as applicable) information about the submitting organization requesting the testing, patient history (as applicable), owner information and animal history (as applicable) and epidemiological information. The collection of this type of data is pertinent in ensuring a specimen's testing results are linked to the correct patient and the final test reports are delivered to the appropriate submitting organization to aid in making proper health-related decisions related to the patient. Furthermore, the data provided on this form may be used by the CDC to identify sources of potential outbreaks and other public-health related events. When the form is filled out, a user in the submitting organization prints a hard copy of it that will be included in the specimen's shipping package sent to the CDC. The printed form has barcodes on it that allow the CDC testing laboratory to scan its data directly into ELIMS where the specimen's testing lifecycle is tracked and managed.

Likewise, the Global File Accessioning Template records the same data as the 50.34 Form but provides the capability to submit information for a batch of specimens (typically 50–1,000 specimens per batch) to a specific CDC laboratory for testing. The CDC testing laboratory electronically uploads the Global File Accessioning Template into ELIMS where the batch of specimens are then logged and are ready to be tracked through their respective testing and reporting workflow.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 2,153 annualized burden hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to participate.