| **National Center    for     Health Statistics            Division of Data     Services            6525 Belcrest Road     Hyattsville, MD     20782-2003     (301)458-4636      **

 

**National    Health and Nutrition Examination Survey****NHANES Home | Participant | Background | Research Activities    | Health Professionals | Growth Charts | Search NCHS | Contact    Us**
**Health Professionals**

**Participant Involvement and    Benefits**The National Health and    Nutrition Examination Survey is a population-based survey designed to collect information    on the health and nutrition of the U.S. household population. You may have come across    data gathered through NHANES during your professional education. NHANES data have been    used to influence policy and improve the health of the U.S. population in many ways    including: getting lead removed from gasoline; creating and updating the pediatric growth    charts; and establishing national baseline estimates for cholesterol, blood pressure, and    Hepatitis C in the U.S.

There are two parts to this survey: the    home interview and the health examination. We receive written informed consent from each    participant for both the in-home interview and the health exam. During the in-home    interview participants are asked questions about health status, disease history, and diet.    The health examination is performed in a mobile exam center (MEC). The MEC is made up of    four trailers, linked sideways, containing high-tech medical equipment. During the health    examination many tests are performed; however, no internal exams or invasive procedures    are done. Some of these tests (e.g. dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry - DXA) are not    normally performed at a physician’s office and could give the participant and his/her    doctor additional information on his/her health. The examinations a participant will have    depend on that participant’s age and gender.  For a list of examinations **click here**.  Participants are informed that the    NHANES health exam is not a substitute for their regular health care visits.

All participants receive a written **Report Of Findings** approximately 12 weeks after    the exam. If the survey program detects an abnormal value, the participant is notified    immediately by letter. 

For additional information on participant    involvement and benefits please refer to the **Participant    Page**.

 

**Notification and    Referral for Selected Infectious Diseases**The NHANES is conducted by    the National Center for Health Statistics which is part of the Centers for Disease Control    and Prevention (CDC). The objective of the survey is to assess the health and nutritional    status of adults and children in the United States. We gather and protect all information    in keeping with the requirements of Federal Law. The Public Health Service Act (42 USC    242k) authorizes data collection. Section 308(d) of that law (42 USC 242 m) and the    Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552A) prohibit us from giving out information that identifies    individuals in the survey without their consent.

Because the survey is for health research    purposes only, our methods encompass procedures for measuring health status in the general    population. These methods are not always similar to those used in clinical settings.    Additionally, our survey physicians do not complete a history or physical exam on    individual participants and therefore do not diagnose medical conditions. If a health    problem is suspected based on findings from the survey protocol, participants are informed    and referred to their local health care provider or health department clinic for    evaluation and management. The legal obligation to report notifiable diseases to    authorities will be fulfilled by the local provider or health department clinic if the    participant’s clinical or laboratory assessment by the provider meets the case    definition for infectious conditions under public health surveillance in your state.

*The following is the    survey protocol for notification and referral:*

**Tuberculosis**    Test used:  Tuberculin skin test using a PPD-S1 antigen. This antigen is not    commercially available and is being used by the NHANES with permission from the Food and    Drug Administration.    Referral:  Skin test reading of 5 mm or more in duration at 46-76 hours after    placement    Mechanism:  Participant given a written report indicating that he/she may have been    infected with tuberculosis. The report recommends the participant follow-up with his/her    local doctor or health department TB clinic for evaluation and possible      treatment.

**Sexually Transmitted Diseases****Chlamydia and Gonorrhea**    Test used:  Urine is tested using a ligase chain reaction test (Abbot Corp.) designed    to detect the presence of DNA of chlamydia and/or gonorrhea.    Referral:  Positive LCR test    Mechanism:  Same as HIV reporting below.

**HIV**    Test used:  Blood is tested using an enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) to detect    antibody to HIV with a western blot confirmation of positive ELISA tests.    Referral:  Repeated positive ELISA with western blot confirmation.    Mechanism:  Participant is given STD/HIV test results by Certified Health Educator by    phone. Participant identity confirmed by a password. A participant with a positive test    result is counseled and referred to his/her local doctor or health department STD clinic    for repeat testing and evaluation.

 

**NHANES Home | Participant | Background | Research Activities    | Health Professionals       | Growth Charts | Search NCHS | Contact    Us**
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This page last reviewed May 12, 2000

**U.S.    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES****Centers    for Disease Control and Prevention**    National Center for Health Statistics    Division of Data Services     Hyattsville, MD    20782-2003    (301) 458-4636
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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