Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled National Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory Services Survey. This project will conduct a comprehensive, national update of a prior tuberculosis (TB) laboratory services assessment by collecting current information on U.S. laboratories' capacity, capabilities, and accessibility to deliver high-quality mycobacteriology diagnostic services.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67579-67580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21830]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-27-0302; Docket No. CDC-2026-1717]


Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the 
utility of government information, invites the general public and other 
federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project 
titled National Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory Services Survey. This 
project will conduct a comprehensive, national update of a prior 
tuberculosis (TB) laboratory services assessment by collecting current 
information on U.S. laboratories' capacity, capabilities, and 
accessibility to deliver high-quality mycobacteriology diagnostic 
services.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before December 28, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2026-
1717 by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road 
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments 
to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.

[[Page 67580]]

    Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal (<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>) or by U.S. mail to the address listed 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan 
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection 
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570; 
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85eae8e7c5e6e1e6abe2eaf3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="543b3936143730377a333b22">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires 
federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new 
proposed collection, each proposed extension of the existing collection 
of information, and each reinstatement of previously approved 
information collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for 
approval. To comply with this requirement, we are publishing this 
notice of a proposed data collection as described below.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
    1. 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;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    4. Minimize the burden of collecting information on those to 
respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, 
or other technological collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology, e.g., permitting electronic responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    National Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory Services Survey--New--
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention 
(NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The purpose of National Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory Services 
Survey is to conduct a comprehensive, national update of a prior 
tuberculosis (TB) laboratory services assessment by collecting current 
information on U.S. laboratories' capacity, capabilities, and 
accessibility to deliver high-quality mycobacteriology diagnostic 
services. An electronic survey will be developed collaboratively with 
the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and distributed by 
APHL via email with an embedded link to no more than 1,000 clinical, 
commercial, federal, academic medical, and public health laboratories. 
The survey will collect information on laboratory services, testing 
methods and volumes, specimen types, referral and reference testing 
practices, specimen handling and transport, reporting practices, 
training needs, and proficiency testing and quality assurance. The 
project aims to assess testing service offerings, volumes, methods, and 
referral practices, to identify gaps that impede timely, accurate TB 
diagnosis.
    Responses will be collected and analyzed by APHL. All respondent 
data will be handled securely. Data will be electronically stored on 
APHL servers. Raw data may be shared with CDC. Any information on 
specific individuals included on behalf of the organization submitting 
responses will be removed prior to APHL providing data to CDC. CDC may 
be engaged in the project by consulting on analysis or interpretation. 
In addition, aggregate summaries may be provided to CDC after analysis 
of responses by APHL.
    CDC requests OMB approval for a total estimated annual burden of 
417 hours. Respondents will not receive federal funds to participate in 
this project. There are no additional costs to respondents other than 
their time.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
      Type of respondent            Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent        (hours)          hours
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Domestic Tuberculosis           Online Survey              1,000               1           25/60             417
 Laboratory.                     Instrument.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             417
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health 
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-21830 Filed 10-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P


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