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CDC Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Drug Susceptibility Testing
OMB: 0920-0600
Request for Revision to an Approved Information Collection
CDC Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing
(OMB Control No. 0920-0600)
Exp. 02/20/2022
Supporting Statement A
November 16, 2021
Contact:
Cortney Stafford
Health Scientist
Laboratory Branch
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, N.E., MS H17-4
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Phone: (404) 639-3420
Fax: (404) 639-1287
Email: fcx6@cdc.gov
Table of Contents
A. Justification
Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
Purpose and Use of the Information Collection
Use of Improved Information Technology and Burden Reduction
Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
Consequences of Collecting the Information Less frequently
Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency
Explanation of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents
Protection of the Privacy and Confidentiality of Information Provided by Respondents
Justification for Sensitive Questions
Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
Estimates of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents and Record Keepers
Annualized Cost to the Government
Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 2.1: Overview of MPEP Process
Exhibit 12.1: Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
Exhibit 12.2: Estimated Annualized Burden Cost
Exhibit 14.1: Annual Cost to the Government
Exhibit 16.1: Project Time Schedule
List of Attachments
-
1
Authorizing Legislation
2
60-Day Federal Register Notice
2a
60-Day Public Comments
3
Explanation of Changes
4
Participant Biosafety Compliance Letter of Agreement
5
Pre-shipment Email
6
Instructions to Participants Letter
7
MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Results Worksheet
8
Survey Instrument Web Shots
9
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Results Form
10
Reminder Email
11
Aggregate Report Letter
12
Final Aggregate Report
13
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
Goal of the study: The goal of the study is to collect and analyze the performance and practices of all known clinical and public health laboratories in the United States that perform drug susceptibility testing of isolates belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), a genetically related group of Mycobacterium species that can cause tuberculosis in humans. The TB Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) assesses the ability of laboratories to test for drug resistant MTBC strains, providing laboratories a self-assessment tool to aid in optimizing their skills in susceptibility testing.
Intended use of the resulting data: The information obtained from the laboratories on susceptibility practices and procedures is used to monitor the quality and effectiveness of laboratory testing systems which support public health objectives of tuberculosis treatment programs. Additionally, data will help to determine variables related to good performance, assess training needs, and aid with the development of practice standards. Information collected from participants is compiled, analyzed, and developed into a report that laboratories can use as a self-assessment tool to maintain the skills for accurate and reliable drug susceptibility testing of MTBC.
Methods to be used to collect: Data will be collected from staff of participating laboratories performing drug susceptibility testing of MTBC. Data will be collected online using a survey instrument that will be completed by a laboratory representative. The survey has routing and logic built-in to limit burden for the majority of participating laboratories that perform testing of antituberculosis drugs.
The subpopulation to be studied: Subpopulations to be studied consist of comparison of data inputted by staff from clinical laboratories classified as public health, hospital, independent (non-hospital based), federal, or other.
How data will be analyzed: This data collection does not use statistical methods. Data is analyzed by tabulating and comparing results from various test methodologies and associated practice variables. Analyzed data will be presented in a report for participants to compare their results with both expected results and aggregate participants’ results.
A. Justification
1. Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requests a revision to an approved information collection 0920-0600 (expiration date 02/20/2022) entitled, “CDC Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing,” for a period of 3 years. Revision of this information consists of modifications to the Instructions to Participants letter, the MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Results Worksheet, the MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Results form, and transition of online data collection instrument from one system to another.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a continuing public health problem despite the declining number of cases in the United States over the past few years. Although there has been an overall decrease in the number of cases in the U.S, rates still remain high among non-U.S.-born persons, correctional populations, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals infected with HIV in major metropolitan areas. Adequate TB control depends on rapid isolation and identification of the etiologic agent, M. tuberculosis complex, and confirmation of the appropriate therapeutic regimen by antituberculosis drug susceptibility testing. With this information, the necessary infection control procedures and contact tracing can be initiated, and informed decisions can be made regarding therapy. Public health laboratories play a key role in reducing tuberculosis transmission. Competent staff, adequate test procedures, and facilities for thorough evaluations of clinical specimens are critical in reducing TB transmissions.
The CDC Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) is an educational self-assessment tool in which five isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) are sent from CDC to participating laboratories biannually for staff to monitor their ability to determine drug resistance among the isolates. MTBC is a genetically related group of Mycobacterium species that can cause tuberculosis in humans. The report produced from testing information received includes results for a subset of laboratories performing drug susceptibility tests (DST) for MTBC in the United States. MPEP is a voluntary self-assessment and non-statistical data collection program, and the report reflects data received from participating laboratory personnel. The aggregate report is prepared in a format that will allow laboratory personnel to compare their DST results with those obtained by other participants using the same method(s) and drugs, for each isolate.
MPEP was established to analyze the performance and practices of all known clinical and public health laboratories in the United States that perform DST of MTBC isolates. MPEP is a voluntary self-assessment and non-statistical data collection program. The approval of this revision will allow CDC to continue receiving essential data to assess and monitor the quality and effectiveness of laboratory testing systems, which support public health objectives of tuberculosis treatment programs.
Data collection from CDC Model Performance Evaluation Program for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing has been useful in identifying gaps in detection of certain drug resistance by current susceptibility testing, developing educational trainings/webinars, and assisting laboratories in assessment of their testing practices. The requested revision of this data collection will allow CDC to evaluate the effectiveness of these training/webinars by continually monitoring laboratory performance. CDC is requesting several changes to the ICR, which are explained in Section 15 on page 11 of this supporting statement and in Explanation of Changes (Attachment 3).
This information collection activity is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, (42 USC 241) Section 301 (Attachment 1).
2. Purpose and Use of Information Collection
CDC sends isolates of MTBC to the participating laboratories. Data (test results of isolates) are collected from staff of participating laboratories classified as public health, hospital, independent (non-hospital based), federal, or other to analyze the performance and practices of all known clinical and public health laboratories in the United States that perform DST of MTBC isolates. Since statistical methods are not utilized, no sampling is employed. Upon signing of the Participant Biosafety Compliance Letter of Agreement (Attachment 4) by an authorized representative once per year in January, each laboratory is enrolled in MPEP and assigned a MPEP number. The MPEP number is used by participants to enter data online. Before survey samples are mailed to the laboratory, a Pre-shipment Email (Attachment 5) is sent to participants to inform them of the expected date for receiving the isolate shipment. The Pre-shipment Email will also contain a request to notify CDC of any changes in laboratory contact information. Isolates are sent to the laboratories along with an Instructions to Participants Letter (Attachment 6), MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Results Worksheet (Attachment 7), and MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Form (Attachment 9). The Instructions to Participants contains information on handling the isolates and for reporting DST results online using the Survey Instrument (Attachment 8). All testing results data must be entered online at https://rdcp.cdc.gov/surveys/?s=TMKFCMRNW4.
Background information concerning the classification of each participating laboratory and their DST methods are also collected. Each participant is sent a link to enter all information online. Participants who have not input their results two weeks prior to the deadline are notified by a Reminder Email (Attachment 10). Approximately 4 months after the deadline, the results of the data collected are analyzed into a report. The Final Aggregate Report is posted on the CDC MPEP Reports Page at https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/laboratory/mpep/reports.htm and an Aggregate Report Letter (Attachment 11) is emailed to all enrollees with a link to the completed report. An example of the Final Aggregate Report is found in Attachment 12.
Data collected are stored as SAS files (or equivalent) data sets and imported into Excel files with a unique identifier. All data are treated in a secure manner and not released with identifiers, unless compelled by law or unless CDC project staff requests re-linking in order to facilitate communication with a site that is experiencing a high rate of inaccurate results. The information collected will be maintained at the CDC for at least 10 years.
Information collected from participants is compiled, analyzed, and reported in an aggregate report that laboratories can use as a self-assessment tool to maintain the skills needed for DST of MTBC. The challenge isolate strains are sent twice yearly. If data from the challenge isolate strains are not collected and analyzed, laboratories may not have the ability to detect susceptibility testing and quality control problems, and therefore not correct the problem.
CDC and other public health organizations use the information from this collection to measure reproducibility of susceptibility test results performed with various test procedures in the U.S. These results are used to determine areas of need for training while monitoring test methodologies and testing volumes to improve the quality of susceptibility testing of MTBC. Because of the importance of accurate and timely test results for the success of TB surveillance, prevention, and treatment programs, CDC maintains an active role in the assurance of high-quality laboratory testing. MPEP fulfills part of this role by monitoring the level of performance and practices among public health and private sector laboratories within the U.S. By providing a performance evaluation program to assess the ability of the laboratories to test for drug resistant isolates of MTBC, laboratories also have a self-assessment tool to aid in optimizing their skills in susceptibility testing. As previously stated, MPEP is a voluntary self-assessment non-statistical data collection program.
From March to April 2018, CDC conducted an assessment of MPEP under genIC “Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery”, OMB Control No. 0920-1027. MPEP participants were invited to complete an online survey to measure how they value the program and to receive customer feedback to improve service delivery. Forty-nine MPEP participants responded to the survey request. Overall, responding laboratories were very appreciative of MPEP and overwhelmingly considered it an important part of their quality management program. Respondents indicated that participation in MPEP increases their laboratory’s confidence in their ability to detect drug-resistant TB. Laboratories reported using the Final Aggregate Report (Attachment 12) in a variety of ways including education, reference material for future TB cases, and review of isolates with unexpected DST results. Ninety-five percent of respondents reported being amenable to receiving isolates that are resistant to at least rifampin and isoniazid (i.e., multi-drug resistant TB) as part of MPEP in future shipments.
Exhibit 2.1 Overview of MPEP Process |
MPEP Process
|
3. Use of Improved Information Technology and Burden Reduction
To reduce the burden on each laboratory participant, CDC has provided online access for entering laboratory information and testing results. Submission of all information is 100% web-based for all participants. A MPEP dedicated phone number (404-639-4013) and email address (TBMPEP@CDC.GOV) are available to provide technical assistance to program participants during the data entry periods.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
CDC has taken steps to ensure that the information collected on laboratory susceptibility testing practices and challenge strains are not duplicated or otherwise accessible from any other source. To do so, CDC communicates with Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and American Public Health Association (APHA) and maintains a panel of external experts to ensure that there is no duplication of information requested in this program. Any information collection that is currently conducted either internally or externally in the area of TB does not specifically survey the same technical personnel or provide similar testing and feedback on MTBC susceptibility testing.
5. Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
This data collection will not involve small businesses. None of the laboratories participating in this data collection are considered small entities. To reduce the burden on laboratories, all results are entered though a web-based application system. The system allows laboratories to skip questions that do not pertain to their normal routine performance. Laboratories report only information for the level of testing they perform routinely. Therefore, each laboratory’s voluntary participation imposes no additional record keeping.
6. Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently
Laboratories will receive, test, and record data on select isolates of MTBC twice yearly. This semi-annual shipment and data collection system allows laboratories the opportunity to maintain proficiency in detecting drug resistance while providing the necessary feedback for resolving any proficiency issues in the laboratory. Collecting data less frequently will negatively affect maintenance of laboratory proficiency. Semi-annual shipments and data collection allows laboratories entering the program to participate at least once during their entry year. Changes in laboratory guidelines and practices are captured at this time. There are no technical or legal obstacles to reduce the burden.
7. Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
No special circumstances are planned or intended for the respondents. This request fully complies with the regulation 5 CFR 1320.5.
8. Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency
A 60-day federal register notice to solicit public comments was published on August 27, 2021, Volume 86, Number 164, Pages 48146–48147 (Attachment 2). One non-substantive anonymous public comment was received (Attchment 2a).
9. Explanations of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents
There will be no payments or tokens of appreciation offered for participation.
10. Protection of the Privacy and Confidentiality of Information Provided by Respondents
The Privacy Officer for CDC / ATSDR has assessed this package for applicability of 5 U.S.C. § 552a and has determined that the Privacy Act does apply to the information collection (Attachment 13). Respondents are domestic laboratories that perform susceptibility testing on isolates of MTBC. Although data collection forms request the name of the individual who completes the form on behalf of the respondent laboratory, the individual is responding in their role as an official contact for the laboratory and does not provide personal information. The Privacy Act does not apply to organizations.
CDC is responsible for enrolling participants for MPEP. CDC assigns a unique identification number (MPEP number) to each enrolled participant. CDC maintains the records that link the unique MPEP number to the respondent organization's name.
Participants are required to submit data online by using their assigned MPEP number. Data will be collected from staff of participating laboratories performing drug susceptibility testing of MTBC. The Participant Biosafety Compliance Letter of Agreement (Attachment 4) is used to collect the name, city and state of the facility, the name and business title of the person completing form, and because the person completing the form emails the letter back to CDC, the responding email address will be captured. Data collected from the online survey instrument will include the growth-based drug susceptibility results and the molecular test results obtained from testing performed on the isolates the facility received from CDC. The Pre-shipment Email (Attachment 4) will be used to request the contact and address information, which includes the name, participant site, address, city, state, zip code, phone, fax number and email address. Limited CDC staff have access to respondent names and the information that links a respondent's name to the corresponding MPEP number. However, CDC program staff has only routine access to response information that is coded by the MPEP number. This system safeguards respondent privacy and allows CDC staff to conduct primary analyses only on de-identified data.
The MPEP number is associated with laboratory performance records only. The laboratory MPEP number link to the master laboratory identification number link is stored in a separate data set. The CDC staff uses this master laboratory identification number to link the laboratory MPEP number to the laboratory address for the purpose of connecting files and creating aggregate reports for distribution to participant laboratories, as needed. All report generation which requires the use of the laboratory identity is the responsibility of the CDC staff.
Response data is primarily filed and retrieved by the MPEP number. The master copy of the database is maintained by CDC staff that restricts access to the data to designated CDC program personnel. CDC IT staff are responsible for ensuring that adequate backup and recovery procedures are in place to ensure that accidental or natural occurrences will not result in loss of project data. These procedures, as a minimum, include regular generation of two (2) backup copies of the database, with one copy transferred to a secure, off-site facility. In addition, backups are made after major updates to the database are performed.
The data collection procedures allow CDC to conduct primary analyses on the data. However, since CDC offers consultation for the participant laboratories, CDC maintains the capability to re-link identification information, if an individual laboratory seeks CDC’s help in resolving testing problems. While CDC does not anticipate the re-linking of identifiers to be a regular occurrence, one cannot be certain how a given test will perform in laboratories. CDC envisions that the re-linking function will persist only for the brief length of time needed to address the performance issues raised by the inquiring participant laboratory of high public health impact associated with any given survey.
11. Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Justification for Sensitive Questions
IRB Approval
The appropriate CDC/ATSDR official has determined that this information collection activity is not human subjects research and therefore does not require IRB approval.
Sensitive Questions
It is not the intent of this program to collect sensitive information. Some laboratories may view their laboratory performance data as sensitive. The data de-identification procedures (described above in Section 10.) were instituted to encourage laboratories to participate in voluntary self-assessment.
12. Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
A. Eighty (80) respondents will be asked to complete a Participant Biosafety Compliance Letter of Agreement (Attachment 4) in order to join the program. This letter is completed once and is estimated to take five minutes to complete for a total of seven burden hours. Each of the 80 participants will need to complete a MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Results Worksheet (Attachment7) and enter results online using the survey instrument. These forms need to be completed for each test shipment, for which there are two annual shipments. This is expected to take 30 minutes for each shipment for a total of 80 burden hours. The Online Survey Instrument (Attachment 8) is completed by each of the 80 participants, 2 times annually and is expected to take 15 minutes each for a total 40 burden hours. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Results Form (Attachment 9) is completed by four participants two times a year taking 15 minutes each for a total of two burden hours annually.
The burden remains the same as the previous submission. CDC is requesting approval for 129 burden hours.
Table A.12A. Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
Type of Respondent |
Form Name |
No. of Respondents |
No. of Responses per Respondent |
Average Burden per Response (in hours) |
Total Burden Hours |
Domestic Laboratories
|
Participant Biosafety Compliance Letter of Agreement (Attachment 4) |
80 |
1 |
5/60 |
7 |
MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Results Worksheet (Attachment 7) |
80 |
2 |
30/60 |
80 |
|
Online Survey Instrument (Attachment 8) |
80 |
2 |
15/60 |
40 |
|
|
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Results Form (Attachment 9) |
4 |
2 |
15/60 |
2 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
129 |
B. The average hourly wage shown below in Table A12.B for respondents is based on salary ranges for laboratory staff wages in U.S. dollars. The average hourly rate for respondents participating in this survey was obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey found at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191022.htm.
Table A12b. Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
Type of Respondent |
Total Burden Hours |
Hourly Wage Rate |
Total Respondent Costs |
Microbiologist |
129 |
$44.15 |
$5,695.35 |
13. Estimates of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents or Record Keepers
None.
14. Annualized Cost to the Government
Funding is being made available through the operating budget of the CDC TB Laboratory Branch. The estimated annual cost to the government, $78,705.40, is shown in the table below for two shipments of testing challenges per year. This cost includes wages for staff hours for data analysis, preparation of reports, and preparation and shipping of culture slants for the program.
Annualized Cost to the Government
Expense Type |
Expense Explanation |
Cost |
Direct Cost to the Federal Government |
CDC Project Officer (30% effort GS-14, $114,717) |
$34,415.10 |
Direct Cost to the Federal Government |
Data Management (30% effort, GS-13, $97,078) |
$29,123.40 |
Direct Cost to Federal Government |
Laboratory Support (10% effort, GS-13, 107,569) |
$10,756.90 |
Direct Cost to Federal Government |
culture slants, shipping containers, shipping costs |
4,410.00 |
Total |
|
$78,705.40 |
15. Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
This is a request for a revision of a currently approved data collection. Revision of this information will not require changes in the scope of the study. In this request, CDC is requesting approval for the following revisions:
Modification of Instructions to Participants Letter (Attachment 6) to clarify detailed instructions for online data entry of DST results.
Modification of MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Results Worksheet (Attachment 7) to include additional antituberculosis drugs.
Transition to new online data collection instrument (Attachment 8).
Modification of MPEP Mycobacterium tuberculosis Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Results form (Attachment 9) to include additional antituberculosis drugs.
Removal of Reminder Telephone Script (previously Attachment 11).
Modification of Aggregate Report Letter (Attachment 11; previously Attachment 12) to remove information and include updated MPEP Reports webpage URL.
16. Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
Laboratories will be surveyed twice a year. Data will be analyzed by tabulating and comparing results from various test methodologies and associated practice variables. Analysis also includes compiling and collating a variety of methods and drug concentrations. The data is published as an aggregate report and distributed by email to participating laboratories. Data is also posted on the CDC MPEP website at
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/laboratory/mpep/reports.htmThis information will assist in determining guidelines to improve MTBC susceptibility testing.
A. 16.1 Project Time Schedule |
|
Activity |
Time Schedule |
Enrollment using Participant Biosafety Compliance Letter of Agreement |
January (or 1-2 months after OMB approval) |
Shipment of Isolates with Instructions for Participants |
February and August (or 2-3 months after OMB approval) |
Data Entry by Respondents |
March and September (3-4 months after OMB approval) |
|
|
Analysis of Aggregate Data |
May and November (or 4-5 months after OMB approval) |
Final Report to Respondents |
January and July (9-10 months after OMB approval) |
17. Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
Approval is not requested to not display OMB expiration date.
18. Exceptions for Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
There are no exceptions to the certification.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | Foreign Quarantine Regulations (42 CFR 71) |
| Author | aeo1 |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-12-16 |
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