National Tuberculosis 

Indicators Project (NTIP) 

COMPANION FOR 

DATA MANAGERS 2015
iv
v

National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP) 

Companion for Data Managers

2015

This NTIP Companion for Data Managers provides comprehensive 

technical guidance in the calculation of indicators and data definitions.

For future updates and the most current edition of this companion, please access 

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/evaluation/pdf/companionfordatamanagers.pdf

The National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP) User Guide can be accessed at

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/evaluation/pdf/ntipuserguide.pdf

Division of Tuberculosis Elimination

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA 30329

NTIP Companion for Data Managers was prepared by

Surveillance, Epidemiology, Outbreak Investigation Branch

Robert Pratt

Kai H. Young

Rachel Yelk Woodruff

Roque Miramontes

Thomas Navin

Data Management and Statistics Branch 

Cynthia Adams

Others contributed to the production of this document:

CDC Reviewers

Derrick Felix

Haylea Hannah

Carla Jeffries

Mark Miner

Wanda Walton

External Reviewers

Angela Allen

Sheanne Allen

Nancy Baruch

Jerry Carlile

Jason Cummins

Peter Dupree

Ellen Zager Hill

Cheryl Kearns

Liza King

Deborah Sodt

Others contributed to the production of NTIP data:

Data Management and Statistics Branch 

Jose Becerra

Stacey Parker

Sandy Price

Division of Global Migration and Quarantine

Kendra Cuffe

Megan Weems

Daniel Wenger

Rossanne Philen 
Table of Contents

I. Introduction ................................................................................................................1

II. Calculations for Indicators using Data from the National Tuberculosis

Surveillance System (NTSS)...........................................................................................3

Cohort

Verified Counted TB Cases ....................................................................................5, 13

Indicators

TB Incidence Rate ...................................................................................................14

TB Incidence Rate for U.S.-Born Persons...................................................................16

TB Incidence Rate for Foreign-Born Persons...............................................................18

TB Incidence Rate for U.S.-Born Non-Hispanic Blacks or African Americans .................20

TB Incidence Rate for Children Younger than 5 Years of Age ........................................23

Known HIV Status....................................................................................................25

Treatment Initiation .................................................................................................27

Recommended Initial Therapy...................................................................................31

Sputum Culture Result Reported...............................................................................34

Sputum Culture Conversion ......................................................................................37

Completion of Therapy .............................................................................................46

Laboratory Turnaround Time – Culture........................................................................64

Laboratory Turnaround Time – NAA............................................................................68

Drug-Susceptibility Result ........................................................................................71

Universal Genotyping ...............................................................................................74

III. Calculation for Indicators using Data from the Electronic Disease Notification 

(EDN) System ............................................................................................................77

Cohort

Immigrants and Refugees with Abnormal Chest X-Ray Consistent with TB .....................78

Indicators

Immigrants and Refugees - Examination Initiation ......................................................81

Immigrants and Refugees - Examination Completion ...................................................84

Immigrants and Refugees - Treatment Initiation..........................................................88

Immigrants and Refugees - Treatment Completion ......................................................93
IV. Electronic Data Submission for Aggregate Reports for Tuberculosis Program Evaluation 

(ARPE) on Contact Investigation ..................................................................................97

Submitting ARPE Data .............................................................................................98

ARPE Form .........................................................................................................99

Editing ARPE Data.................................................................................................102

Uploading ARPE Form............................................................................................103

ARPE Spreadsheet for Upload.............................................................................104

Exporting ARPE Form.............................................................................................106

V. Appendix A: U.S. Census Population Estimates ...........................................................107

VI. Appendix B: American Community Survey ..................................................................111

1

I. Introduction

The National TB Indicators Project (NTIP) is a performance monitoring system developed by the 

Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) in collaboration with local TB partners.

The goal of NTIP is to help TB program officials and staff members:

■ Use data they have already collected and submitted for surveillance to report progress;

■ Monitor achievements toward national objectives; 

■ Work with community partners and local program staff to inform decisions on program 

planning, evaluation, and resource allocation.

NTIP provides standardized indicators calculated using data reported to the CDC through four 

different systems:

1. National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS) for monitoring TB incidence rates, 

indicators for case management and treatment, and indicators for laboratory reporting

2. TB Genotyping Information Management System (TB GIMS) for monitoring the indicator on 

universal genotyping

3. Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System for monitoring indicators on the examination 

of immigrants and refugees requiring follow-up after their arrival in the United States

4. Aggregate Reports for Tuberculosis Program Evaluation (ARPE) for monitoring the indicators 

on the examination and treatment of individuals who are close contacts to TB patients with 

positive acid-fast bacillus (AFB) sputum-smear results

This companion is written for TB Data Managers who are responsible for the collection, 

management, reporting and dissemination of TB data. This manual provides the specific data 

fields and sample SAS code for calculating indicators provided in the NTIP system. TB Data 

Managers can use this document as a reference in helping them understand how indicators are 

calculated and identify incomplete or inaccurate data. 

The SAS code provided in this companion is provided for training purposes and does not reflect 

the actual codes used by CDC or those used to calculate NTIP indicators. The sample SAS 

code uses pseudo variable names with reference to the data sources indicated. Users should 

replace these variable names with codes specific to their programs and those matched with their 

database structure. 
2
3

II. Calculations for Indicators using Data from 

the National TB Surveillance System (NTSS)

Data used in the calculation of TB incidence rates, indicators for case management and 

treatment, and indicators for laboratory reporting are collected in the Report of Verified Case of 

Tuberculosis (RVCT) and reported to CDC through the National TB Surveillance System (NTSS).

The cohort of cases included in these three sets of indicators have been counted by reporting 

jurisdictions and meet the CDC TB surveillance definition and case verification criteria. 

Tuberculosis case definitions and recommendations for reporting and counting tuberculosis cases 

are outlined in appendices A and B of the CDC Tuberculosis Surveillance Data Training, Report of 

Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT): Instruction Manual, June 2009. This section summarizes 

major criteria used for defining verified counted TB cases for the purposes of calculating 

indicators. TB program personnel should refer to updates on surveillance definitions found in the 

most recent publication of Reported Tuberculosis in the United States on the CDC website.

Verified Counted TB Cases

Case Verification

Tuberculosis cases can be verified through laboratory diagnostic tests, clinical case confirmation, 

or provider diagnosis.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

■ Positive culture – Isolation of M. tuberculosis complex from a clinical specimen, or

■ Positive nucleic acid amplification (NAA) test – Demonstration of M. tuberculosis complex 

from a clinical specimen by nucleic acid amplification test, or

■ Positive smear – Demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in a clinical specimen when a culture 

has not been or cannot be obtained or is falsely negative or contaminated

CLINICAL CASE CONFIRMATION 

■ Positive tuberculosis skin test or positive interferon gamma release assay for 

M. tuberculosis, and

■ Treatment with two or more anti-TB medications, and

■ One of the following: 

• Other signs and symptoms compatible with tuberculosis, such as abnormal chest X-ray, 

abnormal chest CT scan or other chest imaging study, or 

• Clinical evidence of current disease

PROVIDER DIAGNOSIS

When a TB case is diagnosed but does not meet the standard laboratory or clinical case 

definition, TB program officials have the option to verify the case based on provider diagnosis.
4

CASE VERIFICATION CRITERIA (“VERCRIT”) DEFINITION

The assignment of case verification (Vercrit) follows the criteria below in hierarchical order:

1. Positive culture

2. Positive nucleic acid amplification (NAA) test 

3. Positive acid-fast bacilli test

4. Clinical case confirmation

5. Provider diagnosis

NOTE: A record that satisfies the criteria for more than one case verification method will be 

classified in the verification level that appears first in the hierarchy. For example, a record that 

meets the criteria for both positive culture and clinical case definition will be classified as being 

verified by positive culture.

Resources

CDC. Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2013. Appendices A and B. 

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/reports/2013/default.htm

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 5 (Count Status)

– 6 (Date Counted)

– 16 (Site of TB Disease)

– 17 (Sputum Smear)

– 18 (Sputum Culture)

– 19 (Smear/Pathology/Cytology of Tissue and Other Body Fluids)

– 20 (Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids)

– 21 (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result)

– 22A (Initial Chest Radiography)

– 22B (Initial Chest CT Scan or Other Chest Imaging Study)

– 23 (Tuberculin Skin Test at Diagnosis)

– 24 (Interferon Gamma Release Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis at Diagnosis)

– 37 (Initial Drug Regimen)

– 44 (Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started)
5

Verified TB Cases

Case verification criteria (Vercrit) in hierarchical order: 

1. POSITIVE CULTURE (vercrit = ‘Positive Culture’)

A case is verified by culture if either of the RVCT items Sputum Culture or Culture of Tissue and 

Other Body Fluids is reported as ‘Positive’ as illustrated below.

Sputum Culture is Positive [spcult = ‘POS’]

–or–

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’]

If spcult = ‘POS’ or cultothr = ‘POS’ then vercrit = ‘Positive Culture’;
6

2. POSITIVE NAA (vercrit = ‘Positive NAA test’)

Positive nucleic acid amplification test result is used to verify a case if Sputum Culture and 

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids are not positive.

The record is assigned as ‘Positive NAA’ if:

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result is Positive [naatest = ‘POS’]

If naatest = ‘POS’ then vercrit = ‘Positive NAA test’;
7

3. POSITIVE SMEAR/TISSUE (vercrit = ‘Positive Smear’)

Positive smear results for Sputum Smear or Smear/Pathology/Cytology of Tissue and Other Body 

Fluids is used to verify a case if Sputum Culture and Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids 

are either ‘Not Done’ or ‘Unknown,’ and Nucleic Acid Amplification Test results are ‘Not Done,’ 

‘Unknown,’ or ‘Indeterminate.’ 

The record is assigned a ‘Positive Smear’ for vercrit if:

Sputum Culture is either Not Done or Unknown [spcult in (‘NOT’,‘UNK’)] 

–and–

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is either Not Done or Unknown

[cultothr in (‘NOT’, ‘UNK’)]

–AND–

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result is either Not Done, Unknown, or Indeterminate

[naatest in (‘NOT’, ’UNK’, ‘IND’)]

–AND–
8

Sputum Smear is Positive [spsmear = ‘POS’] 

–or–

Smear/Pathology/Cytology of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is Positive

[micrexam = ‘POS’]

If spcult in (‘NOT’, ‘UNK’) and cultothr in (‘NOT’, ‘UNK’) and 

naatest in (‘NOT’, ’UNK’, ‘IND’) and (spsmear = ‘POS’ or micrexam = ‘POS’)

then vercrit = ‘Positive Smear’;
9

4. CLINICAL CASE DEFINITION (vercrit = ‘Clinical Case’)

If a case cannot be verified by culture, NAA test, or smear results, it can be classified as a case 

under ‘Clinical Case Definition.’

The record is assigned as ‘Clinical Case’ for vercrit if all of the following are true:

Sputum Culture is Negative, Not Done, or Unknown

[spcult in (‘NEG’, ‘NOT’, ‘UNK’)] 

–and–

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is Negative, Not Done, or Unknown

[cultothr in (‘NEG’, ‘NOT’, ‘UNK’)]

–AND–

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result is Negative, Not Done, Unknown, or Indeterminate

[naatest in (‘NEG’, ‘NOT’, ‘UNK’, or ‘IND’)]

–AND–
10

Site of TB Disease for Pulmonary, Pleural, or Lymphatic: Intrathoracic is ‘Yes’

[sitepulmonary = ‘Y’ or sitepleural = ‘Y’ or sitelymphaticintra= ‘Y’]

–AND–

A. Initial Chest Radiograph is Abnormal [xray = ‘ABN’] 

–or–

B. Initial Chest CT Scan or Other Chest Imaging Study is Abnormal [ctscan = ‘ABN’]

–OR–

Site of TB Disease for Lymphatic: Cervical, Lymphatic: Axillary, Lymphatic: Other,

Lymphatic: Unknown, Laryngeal, Bone and Joint, Genitourinary, Miliary, Meningeal,

Peritoneal, or Other Site of Disease is ‘Yes’ 

[(sitelymphaticcerv = ‘Y’ or sitelymphaticaxil = ‘Y’ or sitelymphaticoth = ‘Y’ or

sitelymphaticunk = ‘Y’ or sitelaryn = ‘Y’ or sitebone = ‘Y’ or sitegenit = ‘Y’ or 

sitemili = ‘Y’ or sitemenin = ‘Y’ or siteperit = ‘Y’ or siteoth = ‘Y’)]

Note: Miliary site of TB disease is recorded in the current RVCT form under abnormal Chest X-ray 

or CT scan, thus not shown on the Site of Disease (field 16). For cases reported using 

the RVCT form prior to 2009, miliary TB is included based on the Site of Disease field.

–AND–
11

Tuberculin (Mantoux) Skin Test at Diagnosis is Positive [tbtest = ‘POS’]

–or–

Interferon Gamma Release Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis at Diagnosis

is Positive [intfgtest = ‘POS’]

– AND –

Initial Drug Regimen has at least two drugs marked Yes 

NOTE: the drug regimen can consist of ANY two or more drugs.

For example: initinh = ‘Y’ and initrif = ‘Y’ 

If spcult in (‘NEG’, ‘NOT’, ‘UNK’) and cultothr in (‘NEG’, ‘NOT’, ‘UNK’) and 

naatest in (‘NEG’, ‘NOT’, ’UNK’, ‘IND’);

If ((sitepulmonary = ‘Y’ or sitepleural = ‘Y’ or sitelymphaticintra= ‘Y’) and 

(xray = ‘ABN’ or ctscan = ‘ABN’)) or (sitelymphaticcerv = ‘Y’ or sitelymphaticaxil = ‘Y’

or sitelymphaticoth = ‘Y’ or sitelymphaticunk = ‘Y’ or sitelaryn = ‘Y’ or sitebone = ‘Y’

or sitegenit = ‘Y’ or sitemili = ‘Y’ or sitemenin = ‘Y’ or siteperit = ‘Y’ or siteoth = ‘Y’);

If tbtest = ‘POS’ or intfgtest = ‘POS’; 

If initinh = ‘Y’ and initrif = ‘Y’

then vercrit = ‘Clinical Case’;
12

5. Provider Diagnosis (vercrit = ‘Provider Diagnosis’)

If criteria to satisfy any of the previous case verifications are not met, a case can be verified 

under ‘Provider Diagnosis.’ In such a case, the state public health officials can manually assign 

‘Provider Diagnosis’ as the verification criteria. 

6. Not a Case (vercrit = ‘Not a Case’)

A record is not a verified case if:

Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started is Not TB [stopreas = ‘NOTTB’]

If stopreas = ‘NOTTB’ then vercrit = ‘Not a Case’;
13

Verified Counted TB Cases (vercase = ‘Y’)

Only verified TB cases that have met the laboratory, clinical, or provider diagnosis criteria are 

counted. Cases should not be counted by more than one reporting jurisdiction, or have had a 

previous episode of tuberculosis within the last 12 months. 

A case is counted if:

Date Counted is between year-month and year-month 

(cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’)

–and–

Countable TB Case in the jurisdiction of interest (vercount = ‘Y’)

–AND–

Verified by Positive Culture, Positive NAA, Positive Smear, Clinical Case Definition, or Provider 

Diagnosis (see pages 5-12).

[vercrit in (‘Positive Culture’, ‘Positive NAA’, ‘Positive Smear’, ‘Clinical Case’,

‘Provider Diagnosis’)]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercrit in (‘Positive Culture’, ‘Positive NAA’, ‘Positive Smear’, ‘Clinical Case’, 

‘Provider Diagnosis’) and vercount = ‘Y’ 

then vercase = ‘Y’;
14

TB Incidence Rate

Indicator

Number of TB cases per 100,000 per year

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) 

■ U.S. Census Bureau

• Population Estimate (see Appendix A)

Or

• American Community Survey (see Appendix B)

CALCULATION

Cases Per 100,000 n/N

Numerator (n) Number of verified counted TB cases 

Denominator (N) Population in the Program Area and year of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total population in the program area and in the year of interest [rate_case_pop]

NTIP uses population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimate for the 

overall population. This overall population estimate is consistent with those reported in the 

American Community Survey. The procedure on how the population estimate is obtained 

for Program Areas is outlined in Appendix A for the U.S. Census Population Estimate and 

Appendix B for the American Community Survey.

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of all cases included in the analysis [tbcase_ct]

A case is included in the analysis if:

Verified and counted in the year of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’ then tbcase_ct + 1;
15

3. Calculate rate

Number of verified counted TB cases per 100,000 population [rate_case]

rate_case = (tbcase_ct / rate_case_pop) * 100000;
16

TB Incidence Rate for U.S.-Born Persons

Indicator

Number of TB cases in U.S.-born persons per 100,000 per year

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) field:

– 12 (Country of Birth) 

– 12 (Country of Birth: Specify) 

■ U.S. Census Bureau

• American Community Survey (see Appendix B)

CALCULATION

Cases Per 100,000 n/N

Numerator (n) Number of verified TB cases in U.S.-born persons

Denominator (N) Population of U.S.-born persons in the Program Area and year of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total population for U.S.-born persons in the year of interest [rate_usb_pop]

NTIP uses population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community 

Survey. The procedure on how the population estimate is obtained for Program Areas is 

outlined in Appendix B.
17

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of verified counted TB cases in U.S.-born persons [rate_usb_ct]

A case is included in the analysis if: 

Verified and counted in the year of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–

Country of Birth is YES for “U.S.-born” [usborn = ‘Y’] 

–or–

If Country of Birth is NO for “U.S.-born” [usborn = ‘N’] and Country of birth: Specify is

American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands,

Puerto Rico, Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Virgin Islands,

Midway Island, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands

[country in (‘ASM’, ‘FSM’, ‘GUM’, ‘MNP’, ‘PRI’, ‘MHL’, ‘PLW’, ‘VIR’, ‘MIUM’, ‘UMI’,

‘PUUM’)]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’; 

If usborn = ‘Y’ or (usborn = ‘N’ and country in (‘ASM’, ‘FSM’, ‘GUM’, ‘MNP’, ‘PRI’,

‘MHL’, ‘PLW’, ‘VIR’, ‘MIUM’, ‘UMI’, ‘PUUM’)) then rate_usb_ct + 1;

3. Calculate rate

Number of TB cases in U.S.-born persons per 100,000 [rate_usb]

rate_usb = (rate_usb_ct / rate_usb_pop) * 100000;
18

TB Incidence Rate for Foreign-Born Persons

Indicator

Number of TB cases in foreign-born persons per 100,000 per year

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) field: 

– 12 (Country of Birth)

– 12 (Country of Birth: Specify)

■ U.S. Census Bureau

• American Community Survey (see Appendix B)

CALCULATION

Cases Per 100,000 n/N

Numerator (n) Number of verified counted TB cases in foreign-born persons

Denominator (N) Population of foreign-born persons in the Program Area and year 

of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total population for foreign-born persons in the year of interest [rate_fb_pop]

NTIP uses population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. 

The procedure on how the population estimate is obtained for Program Areas is outlined in 

Appendix B.
19

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of verified counted TB cases in foreign-born persons [rate_fb_ct]

A case is included in the analysis if: 

Verified and counted in the year of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–

Country of Birth is No for “U.S.-born” [usborn = ‘N’]

–and–

Country of birth: Specify is NOT American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia,

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Republic of Marshall Islands,

Republic of Palau, Virgin Islands, Midway Island, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands,

U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands

[country not in (‘ASM’, ‘FSM’, ‘GUM’, ‘MNP’, ‘PRI’, ‘MHL’, ‘PLW’, ‘VIR’, ‘MIUM’,

‘UMI’, ‘PUUM’)]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’; 

If usborn = ‘N’ and country not in (‘ASM’, ‘FSM’, ‘GUM’, ‘MNP’, ‘PRI’, ‘MHL’, ‘PLW’,

‘VIR’, ‘MIUM’, ‘UMI’, ‘PUUM’) then rate_fb_ct + 1;

3. Calculate rate

Number of cases in foreign-born persons per 100,000 [rate_fb]

rate_fb = (rate_fb_ct / rate_fb_pop) * 100000;
20

TB Incidence Rate for U.S.-Born 

Non-Hispanic Blacks or African Americans 

Indicator

Number of TB cases in U.S.-born non-Hispanic blacks or African Americans per 100,000 

per year

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 10 (Ethnicity)

– 11 (Race)

– 12 (Country of Birth)

– 12 (Country of Birth: Specify) 

■ U.S. Census Bureau

• American Community Survey (see Appendix B)

CALCULATION

Cases Per 100,000 n/N

Numerator (n) Number of verified counted TB cases in U.S.-born non-Hispanic 

blacks or African Americans

Denominator (N) Population of U.S.-born non-Hispanic blacks or African Americans 

in the Program Area and year of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total population for U.S.-born non-Hispanic blacks or African Americans in the year of 

interest [rate_usbnh_pop]

NTIP uses population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. 

The procedure on how the population estimate is obtained for Program Areas is outlined in 

Appendix B.

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of verified counted TB cases in U.S.-born non-Hispanic blacks or African 

Americans [rate_usbnh_ct]

A case is included in the analysis if: 

Verified and counted in the year of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–
21

Country of Birth is YES for “U.S.-born” [usborn = ‘Y’]

–or–

Country of Birth is NO for “U.S.-born” [usborn = ‘N’] and Country of birth: Specify is 

American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands,

Puerto Rico, Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Virgin Islands,

Midway Island, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands

[country in (‘ASM’, ‘FSM’, ‘GUM’, ‘MNP’, ‘PRI’, ‘MHL’, ‘PLW’, ‘VIR’, ‘MIUM’, ‘UMI’,

‘PUUM’)]

–AND–

Ethnicity is Not Hispanic or Latino [ethnic = ‘NOHISP’] 

–and–

 Race is Black or African American [race = ‘BLACK’]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’; 

If usborn = ‘Y’ or (usborn = ‘N’ and country in (‘ASM’, ‘FSM’, ‘GUM’, ‘MNP’, ‘PRI’,

‘MHL’, ‘PLW’, ‘VIR’, ‘MIUM’, ‘UMI’, ‘PUUM’));

If ethnic = ‘NOHISP’ and race = ‘BLACK’ then rate_usbnh_ct + 1;
22

3. Calculate rate

Number of cases in U.S.-born non-Hispanic blacks or African Americans per 100,000 

[rate_usbnh]

rate_usbnh = (rate_usbnh_ct / rate_usbnh_pop) * 100000;
23

TB Incidence Rate for Children Younger than 5 Years of Age

Indicator

Number of TB cases in children younger than 5 years of age per 100,000 per year 

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 1 (Date Reported) 

– 8 (Date of Birth) 

■ U.S. Census Bureau

• American Community Survey (see Appendix B)

CALCULATION

Cases Per 100,000 n/N

Numerator (n) Number of verified counted TB cases in children younger than 5 years 

of age

Denominator (N) Population of children younger than 5 years of age in the Program 

Area and year of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total population for children under 5 years of age in the year of interest [rate_ped_pop]

NTIP uses population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. 

The procedure on how the population estimate is obtained for Program Areas is outlined in 

Appendix B.
24

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of verified counted TB cases in children younger than 5 years of age 

[rate_ped_ct]

A case is included in the analysis if: 

Verified and counted in the year of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–

Age [Date Reported – Date of Birth] is greater than or equal to 0 and less than 5

[age = reportdate – datebirth], [0 le age lt 5]

NOTE: If either the Date Reported or Date of Birth is incomplete or missing, the AGE is 

unknown, this person will be excluded from the numerator. Age is expressed in years.

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’; 

age = reportdate – datebirth;

If 0 le age lt 5 

then rate_ped_ct + 1;

3. Calculate rate

Number of cases in children younger than 5 years of age per 100,000 [rate_ped]

rate_ped = (rate_ped_ct / rate_ped_pop) * 100000;
25

Known HIV Status 

Indicator

Percent of TB patients with HIV test result reported as positive or negative

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) field:

– 15 (Status at TB Diagnosis)

– 26 (HIV Status at Time of Diagnosis)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients with HIV test result reported as positive or 

negative

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients alive at diagnosis, counted in the cohort 

period of interest

1. Obtain denominator 

Total number of TB patients alive at diagnosis, counted in the cohort period of interest 

[hivcase_total]

A case is included in the analysis if: 

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

-ANDStatus at TB Diagnosis is not DEAD [status NE ‘DEAD’]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If status NE ‘DEAD’;

If vercase = ‘Y’

then hivcase_total + 1;
26

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of patients with HIV test result reported as positive or negative [hiv_yes]

The record is given credit for known HIV status if:

HIV Status at Time of Diagnosis is Positive OR Negative.

[hivstat in (‘NEG’,‘POS’)]

If hivstat in (‘NEG’,’POS’) then hiv_yes + 1;

3. Calculate percent

Percent of TB patients with HIV test result reported as positive or negative [hiv_pct]

hiv_pct = (hiv_yes / hivcase_total) * 100;
27

Treatment Initiation

Indicator

Percent of TB patients with positive Acid-fast Bacillus (AFB) sputum-smear result who initiated 

treatment within 7 days of specimen collection

NOTE: Indicator implemented for cases reported in 2009 and after.

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 15 (Status at TB Diagnosis)

– 17 (Sputum Smear)

◆ Date Collected

– 36 (Date Therapy Started)

– 37 (Initial Drug Regimen)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients who initiated treatment within 7 days of 

specimen collection

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with positive AFB sputum-smear results, 

alive at diagnosis, counted in the cohort period of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total TB patients with positive AFB sputum-smear results who are alive at diagnosis and 

counted in the cohort period of interest [rxi_total]

A case is included in the analysis if: 

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–

Status at TB Diagnosis is ALIVE [status = ‘ALIVE’]

–AND–
28

Sputum Smear is POSITIVE [spsmear = ‘POS’]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’; 

If status = ‘ALIVE’;

If spsmear = ‘POS’ 

then rxi_total + 1;

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of TB patients with positive AFB sputum-smear results who are alive at 

diagnosis and initiated treatment within 7 days of specimen collection [rxi_yes]

The record is given credit for having initiated treatment within 7 day of specimen 

collection if:

Sputum Smear Date Collected is not equal to ‘Incomplete’ or ‘Missing’

[spsmrcol NE . ]

–AND–

Start Therapy Date is not equal to ‘Incomplete’ or ‘Missing’

[rxdatestart NE .]

–AND–
29

Initial Drug Regimen has AT LEAST ONE DRUG Checked ‘YES’

[initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’ or initrib = ‘Y’

or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’ or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’

or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’ or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’

or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’]

–AND–

Date Therapy Started – Sputum Smear Date Collected is less than or equal to 7 days, or is a 

“negative” number of days

[(rxdatestart – spsmrcol) le 7]

NOTE: If either the Date Therapy Started or Sputum Smear Date Collected is incomplete or 

missing, the record will not be given credit for meeting objective. 

If a patient has initiated treatment before sputum smear is collected, the record will be 

credited for having met the objective.
30

If spsmrcol NE . and rxdatestart NE .;

If initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’;

If (rxdatestart - spsmrcol) le 7 then rxi_yes + 1;

3. Calculate percent

Percent of TB patients with positive AFB sputum-smear results who initiated treatment within 

7 days of specimen collection [rxi_pct]

rxi_pct = (rxi_yes / rxi_total) * 100;
31

Recommended Initial Therapy

Indicator

Percent of TB patients with initial drug regimen reported who are started on the recommended 

initial 4-drug regimen

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 15 (Status at TB Diagnosis)

– 37 (Initial Drug Regimen)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients who are started on the recommended initial 

4-drug regimen

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with initial drug regimen reported, alive at 

diagnosis, counted in the cohort period of interest

1. Obtain denominator 

Total TB patients with initial drug regimen reported, alive at diagnosis, counted in the cohort 

period of interest [rit_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if: 

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

– AND –
32

Initial Drug Regimen has AT LEAST ONE DRUG Checked ‘YES’

[initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’]

–AND–

Status at TB Diagnosis is Alive [status = ‘ALIVE’]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’;

If if initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’;

If status = ‘ALIVE’ then rit_total + 1;
33

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of TB patients who are started on the recommended initial 4-drug regimen

(i.e., isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF) or rifabutin (RIB), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol 

(EMB)) [rit_yes] 

A case is given credit for being on the recommended 4-drug regimen if:

Initial Drug Regimen-INH is YES [initinh = ‘Y’] and (RIF is YES [initrif = ‘Y’] or

RIB is YES [initrib = ‘Y’]) and PZA is YES [initpza = ‘Y’] and EMB is YES [initemb = ‘Y’]

NOTE: Other drugs prescribed in addition to these drugs are counted as appropriate 

treatment.

If initinh = ‘Y’ and (initrif = ‘Y’ or initrib = ‘Y’) and 

initpza = ‘Y’ and initemb = ‘Y’ then rit_yes + 1;

3. Calculate percent

Percent of TB patients who are started on the recommended initial 4-drug regimen

[rit_pct]

rit_pct = (rit_yes / rit_total) * 100;
34

Sputum Culture Result Reported

Indicator

Percent of TB patients ages 12 years or older with a pleural or respiratory site of disease who 

have sputum culture result reported

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 1 (Date Reported)

– 8 (Date of Birth)

– 15 (Status at TB Diagnosis)

– 16 (Site of TB Disease)

– 18 (Sputum Culture)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients with sputum culture results reported

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients ages 12 years or older with a pleural or 

respiratory (i.e., pulmonary and laryngeal) site of disease, alive at 

diagnosis, counted in the cohort period of interest

1. Obtain denominator 

Total TB patients ages 12 years or older with a pleural, pulmonary or laryngeal site of disease, 

alive at diagnosis, counted in the cohort period of interest [spcr_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if: 

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND –
35

Site of TB Disease for Pulmonary, Pleural, or Laryngeal is ‘Yes’

[sitepulmonary = ‘Y’ or sitepleural = ‘Y’ or sitelaryngeal’= ‘Y’]

–AND–

Age (Date Reported – Date of Birth) is greater than or equal to 12 years or is missing.

[(reportdate – dateofbirth) ge 12 or (reportdate – dateofbirth) = . ]

NOTE: If either the Date Reported or Date of Birth is incomplete or missing, then the AGE 

cannot be determined; this case is included in the analytical cohort. Age is expressed 

in years.

–AND–

Status at TB Diagnosis is Alive [status = ‘ALIVE’]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y’;

If sitepulmonary = ‘Y’ or sitepleural = ‘Y’ or sitelaryngeal= ‘Y’;

If (reportdate – dateofbirth) ge 12 or (reportdate – dateofbirth) = .;

If status = ‘ALIVE’

then spcr_total + 1;

Note: Age (reportdate – dateofbirth) is expressed in years.
36

2. Obtain numerator 

Total number of TB patients with a pleural, pulmonary, or laryngeal site of disease in patients 

aged 12 years or older with sputum-culture results reported [spcr_yes]

The record is given credit for having sputum-culture results reported if:

Sputum Culture is Positive or Negative [spcult in (‘POS’,‘NEG’)]

If spcult in (‘POS’,’NEG’) then spcr_yes + 1;

3. Calculate percent

Percentage of TB patients ages 12 years or older with a pleural, pulmonary, or laryngeal site 

of disease, who have sputum culture result reported [spcr_pct]

spcr_pct = (spcr_yes / spcr_total) * 100;
37

Sputum Culture Conversion

Indicator

Percent of TB patients with positive sputum culture results who have documented conversion to 

sputum culture-negative within 60 days of treatment initiation

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 15 (Status at TB Diagnosis)

– 18 (Sputum Culture)

– 36 (Date Therapy Started) 

– 37 (Initial Drug Regimen)

– 41 (Sputum Culture Conversion Documented) 

◆ Yes/No/Unknown

◆ Date specimen collected 

– 42 (Moved)

– 43 (Date Therapy Stopped)

– 44 (Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started) 

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients who have documented conversion to sputum 

culture-negative within 60 days of treatment initiation

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with positive sputum culture results, alive at 

diagnosis, who have initiated treatment, counted in the cohort period 

of interest. Patients who died within 60 days of initiating treatment 

are excluded. For cohort 2009 onward, patients who moved out of 

the country within 60 days of initiating treatment are also excluded

1. Obtain denominator

Total TB patients with positive sputum culture results, alive at diagnosis, initiated treatment, 

counted in the cohort period of interest. Patients who died or moved out of the country within 

60 days of initiating treatment are excluded [cc_total]
38

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–

Sputum Culture is Positive [spcult = ‘POS’]

–AND–

Status at TB Diagnosis is Alive [status = ‘ALIVE’]

–AND–

Initial Drug Regimen has AT LEAST ONE DRUG Checked ‘YES’

[initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’]

–AND–
39

A. Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started is not equal to Died

[stopreas NE ‘DIED’}

–OR–

B. If Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started is Died

[stopreas = ‘DIED’]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped – Date Therapy Started) is greater

than 60 days, or is missing, or is a “negative” number of days. 

[(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 60 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = . or 

(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0]

NOTE: If either the Date Therapy Started or Date Therapy Stopped is incomplete or 

missing, then death within 60 days cannot be determined; the case is included in the 

analytic cohort. In SAS, missing numerical data is treated as a value less than zero.

–AND–
40

A. Moved not equal to Yes [moved NE ‘Y’] 

–OR–

B. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. not equal to Yes

[moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutUS NE ‘Y’] 

–OR–

C. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. equal to Yes AND 

Time to conversion = Date Sputum Culture Conversion - Date Therapy Started 

[cc_time = cnegdate – rxdatestart] is less than or equal to 60 days, or is “negative” 

number of days [cc_time le 60] and is NOT Unknown or Missing [cc_time NE . ]

NOTE: Patients who moved out of the country within 60 days of initiating treatment and who 

also have sputum culture conversion documented within 60 days are retain in the cohort and 

given credit for meeting this objective.

–OR–(continue next page)
41

D. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. equal to Yes AND Reason Therapy

Stopped NOT Equal (Completed or Died)

(those who moved out of the US and Reason Therapy Stopped Not Updated) 

[moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutus = ‘Y’ and ((stopreas NE ‘COMPLETED’) and

(stopreas NE ‘DIED’))]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped - Date Therapy Started) is

greater than 60 days, or is missing, or is a “negative” number of days.

[(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 60 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = . or 

(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0]

–OR–(continue next page)
42

E. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. equal to Yes AND Reason Therapy Stopped 

equals to (Completed or Died)

(those who moved out of the US and Reason Therapy Stopped is Updated), 

[moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutus = ‘Y’ and ((stopreas = ‘COMPLETED’) or

(stopreas = ‘DIED’))]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped - Date Therapy Started) is missing

or is a “negative” number of days.

[(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = . or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0]

NOTES: 

■ If either the Date Therapy Started or Date Therapy Stopped is incomplete or missing, 

then moved out of the country within 60 days cannot be determined; the case is 

included in the analytic cohort. In SAS, missing numerical data is treated as a value 

less than zero.

■ If Date Therapy Stopped is incorrectly entered as before the Date Therapy Started, 

these cases are included in the cohort.

■ Exclusions for moved applied to cases reported in 2009 onward.
43

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y;

If status = ‘ALIVE’ and spcult = ‘POS’;

If initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’;

If stopreas NE ‘DIED’ or (stopreas = ‘DIED’ and ((rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 60

or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = . or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0));

If moved NE ‘Y’ or (moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutUS NE ‘Y’)

or (moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutus = ‘Y’ and (cc_time le 60 and cc_time NE .)

or (stopreas NOT IN (‘COMPLETED’,’DIED’) and ((rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 60

or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .)

or (stopreas IN (‘COMPLETED’,’DIED’) and (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0

or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .))) then cc_total + 1
44

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of TB patients with positive sputum culture results who have documented 

conversion to sputum culture-negative within 60 days of treatment initiation [cc_yes]

A case is given credit for having converted within 60 days of initiating treatment if:

Sputum Culture Conversion Documented is YES [convert = ‘Y’] 

–AND–

Time to conversion = Date specimen collected - Date Therapy Started

[cc_time = cnegdate – rxdatestart]

Time to conversion is less than or equal to 60 days, or is “negative” number of days 

[cc_time le 60] and is NOT Unknown or Missing [cc_time NE . ]

NOTE:

■ If either the Date Therapy Started or the Specimen Collection Date for first consistently 

negative sputum culture is incomplete or missing, the record will not be credited for 

having met the objective. 

■ Sputum culture may convert to a negative result before a patient initiate treatment. 

Calculation with negative sputum culture conversion time is given credit for having met 

the objective.

cc_time = cnegdate - rxdatestart;

If convert = ‘Y’ and cc_time le 60 and cc_time NE .

then cc_yes + 1;
45

3. Calculate percent

Percentage of TB patients with positive sputum culture results who have documented 

conversion to sputum culture-negative within 60 days of treatment initiation

[cc_pct]

 cc_pct = (cc_yes / cc_total) * 100;
46

Completion of Therapy

Indicator

Percent of patients with newly diagnosed TB disease for whom treatment for 12 months or less 

is indicated who completed treatment within 12 months (366 days)

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 1 (Date Reported) 

– 8 (Date of Birth)

– 15 (Status at TB Diagnosis)

– 16 (Site of TB Disease)

– 20 (Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids)

◆ Anatomic code

◊ Blood

– 21 (Nucleic Acid Amplication Test Result)

◆ Anatomic code

◊ Blood

– 22 (Initial Chest Radiograph and Other Chest Imaging Study)

– 36 (Date Therapy Started)

– 37 (Initial Drug Regimen)

– 40 (Initial Drug Susceptibility Results)

– 42 (Moved)

– 43 (Date Therapy Stopped)

– 44 (Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started) 
47

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients who complete treatment in less than or equal 

to 366 days

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients who are eligible1 to complete treatment within 

12 months, alive at diagnosis, and have started treatment. Patients 

who died within 366 days of initiating treatment are excluded. For 

cohort 2009 onward, patients who moved out of the country2 within 

366 days of initiating treatment are also excluded

1Conditions that require patients to have an extended treatment and thus not eligible to complete 

treatment within 12 months are excluded from this cohort. These conditions include

■ Meningeal TB

■ TB in the central nervous system

■ TB in bone or joint and the skeletal system 

■ Initial drug-susceptibility reported as resistant to rifampin

■ Cases ages 0–14 years with disseminated TB

• Disseminated TB is defined as—

– Evidence of miliary TB on chest radiograph or chest CT scan, or 

– A positive result from culture of blood specimen

– A positive result of NAA testing from blood specimen

All other patients are included in this calculation (i.e., those with culture-negative disease, those 

with an unknown culture status, and those with culture-positive disease but unknown initial drugsusceptibility test results).

2 Patients who moved out of country within 366 days of initiating treatment are excluded for 

cases reported in 2009 onward.

Patients who moved out of the country are defined as those –

■ Reported as “Yes” on the question “Did the patient move during TB therapy?” in the RVCT 

data item “MOVED”

And 

■ Have the box checked for “Out of the U.S.” 

For cases that moved out of the U.S., “Reason Therapy Stopped” is reported as “Other.” The 

“Date Therapy Stopped” reflects the date medication was last ingested by the patient prior to 

moving, or the date the patient moved outside of the country.

Treatment outcome data (i.e., “Reason Therapy Stopped” and “Date Therapy Stopped”) for 

patients who moved outside of the U.S. is updated when available. For these cases, the “Reason 

Therapy Stopped” may reflect “Completed” or “Died.” The “Date Therapy Stopped” reflects the 

actual date when treatment was completed or the date patient died.
48

1. Obtain denominator

Total number of patients who are expected or eligible to complete treatment within 

12 months [cot_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND –

Status at TB Diagnosis is Alive [status = ‘ALIVE’]

–AND–

Initial Drug Regimen has AT LEAST ONE DRUG Checked ‘YES’

[initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’]

–AND–
49

Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started is not Died [stopreas NE ‘DIED’]

–OR–

Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started is Died

[stopreas = ‘DIED’]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped - Date Therapy Started) is greater than 

366 days, or is missing, or is a “negative” number of days.

[(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 366 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0 or 

(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .] 

NOTES: 

If either the Date Therapy Started or Date Therapy Stopped is incomplete or

missing, then death within 366 days cannot be determined; the case is included

in the analytic cohort. In SAS, missing numerical data is treated as a value

less than 0.

–AND–
50

A. Moved not equal to Yes [moved NE ‘Y’] 

–OR–

B. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. not equal to Yes 

[moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutUS NE ‘Y’] 

–OR–(continue next page)
51

C. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. equal to Yes AND Reason Therapy

Stopped NOT Equal to Completed (those who moved out of the US and completed

treatment overseas) or Died (those who moved out of the US and later died).

[moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutus = ‘Y’ and ((stopreas NE ‘COMPLETED’) AND

(stopreas NE ‘DIED’))]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped - Date Therapy Started) is greater than

366 days, or is missing, or is a “negative” number of days.

[(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 366 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0

or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .]

–OR– (continue)
52

D. If Moved equal to Yes AND Out of the U.S. equal to Yes AND Reason Therapy

Stopped equal to Completed (those who moved out of the US and completed 

treatment overseas) or Died (those who moved out of the US and later died),

[moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutus = ‘Y’ and ((stopreas = ‘COMPLETED’) OR

(stopreas = ‘DIED’))]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped - Date Therapy Started) is missing or is 

a “negative” number of days.

[(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .]

NOTES: 

■ If either the Date Therapy Started or Date Therapy Stopped is incomplete or missing, 

then moved out of the country within 366 days cannot be determined; the case is 

included in the analytic cohort. In SAS, missing numerical data is treated as a value 

less than 0.

■ If Date Therapy Stopped is incorrectly entered as before the Date Therapy Started,

these cases are included in the cohort.

■ Exclusions for moved applied to cases reported in 2009 onward.

–AND–
53

Site of TB Disease for Meningeal is not equal to ‘Yes’

[sitemeningeal NE ‘Y’]

–AND–

Site of TB Disease for Bone and Joint is not equal to ‘Yes’

[sitebone NE ‘Y’]

–AND–
54

Site of TB Disease for Other: is not equal to ‘Yes’ [siteoth NE ‘Y’]

–or–

Site of TB Disease for Other: is equal to ‘Yes’ and Sites 1, 2 and 3 are not equal to Brain,

Spinal Cord, Cranial or Peripheral Nerve

[siteoth = ‘Y’ AND siteanat1 not in (‘BA’,’SC’,’CR’) AND siteanat2 not in (‘BA’,’SC’,’CR’) 

AND siteanat3 not in (‘BA’,’SC’,’CR’)] 

–AND–
55

A. Sputum Culture is not Positive [spcult NE ‘POS’] and Culture of Tissue and Other Body 

Fluids is not Positive [cultothr NE ‘POS’]

–OR–

B. If Sputum Culture is Positive [spcult = ‘POS’] or Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids 

is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’],

–and–

Initial Drug Susceptibility Testing is not YES [isustest NE ‘Y’]

–OR–(continue next page)
56

C. If Sputum Culture is Positive [spcult = ‘POS’] or Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids 

is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’]

–and–

Initial Drug Susceptibility Testing is YES [isustest = ‘Y’]

–and–

Initial Drug Susceptibility Results for Rifampin is Not Resistant [isusrif NE ‘R’]

–and–(continue next page)
57

Age (Date Reported - Date of Birth) [AGE = reportdate – datebirth]

Age is 15 years or more [AGE ge 15]

–OR–

If Age is greater than or equal to 0 and less than 15 years [0 le AGE lt 15]

–AND–

A. Initial Chest Radiograph is not Abnormal [xray NE ‘ABN’] 

–or– 

If Initial Chest Radiograph is Abnormal [xray = ‘ABN’] AND Evidence of military TB is 

not equal to Yes [xraymiliary NE ‘Y’]

 –AND–

B. Initial Chest CT Scan or Other Chest Imaging Study is not Abnormal [ctscan NE ‘ABN’]

–or–

Initial Chest CT Scan is Abnormal [ctscan = ‘ABN’] AND Evidence of miliary TB is not 

equal to Yes [ctscanmiliary NE ‘Y’]

Note: A case with miliary TB is recorded as having ‘abnormal’ chest radiograph or

chest CT scan and “Evidence of miliary TB” is reported as ‘Yes’ on the RVCT.
58

–AND–

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is not Positive [cultothr NE ‘POS’] 

–or–

If Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’] AND

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is not ‘Blood’; ‘Blood’ is represented by Anatomic 

Code ‘06’ [cultothrcode NE ’06’]

–AND–

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result is not Positive [NAAtest NE ‘POS’]

–or–

If Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result is Positive [NAAtest = ‘POS’] AND Nucleic Acid 

Amplification Test Result is not ‘Blood’; ‘Blood’ is represented by Anatomic Code ‘06’ 

[NAAcode NE ’06’]
59

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y;

If status = ‘ALIVE’;

If initinh = ‘Y’ or initrif = ‘Y’ or initpza = ‘Y’ or initemb = ‘Y’ or initsm = ‘Y’ 

or initrib = ‘Y’ or initrpt = ‘Y’ or initeth = ‘Y’ or initam = ‘Y’ or initkan = ‘Y’

or initcap = ‘Y’ or initcip = ‘Y’ or initlevo = ‘Y’ or initofl = ‘Y’ or initmoxi = ‘Y’

or initcyc = ‘Y’ or initpas = ‘Y’ or initoth1 = ‘Y’ or initoth2 = ‘Y’;

If stopreas NE ‘DIED’ or (stopreas = ‘DIED’ and ((rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 366 

or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .));

If (moved NE ‘Y’or (moved = ‘Y’ and movedoutUS NE ‘Y’) or (moved = ‘Y’ and 

movedoutus = ‘Y’ and (((stopreas NE ‘COMPLETED’) and (stopreas NE ‘DIED’)) and 

((rxdatestop – rxdatestart) gt 366 or (rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0 or 

(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .)) or (((stopreas = ‘COMPLETED’) or 

(stopreas = ‘DIED’)) and ((rxdatestop – rxdatestart) lt 0 or 

(rxdatestop – rxdatestart) = .))));

If sitemeningeal NE ‘Y’ and sitebone NE ‘Y’ and (siteoth NE ‘Y’ or (siteoth = ‘Y’ and 

siteanat1 not in (‘BA’,’SC’,’CR’) and siteanat2 not in (‘BA’,’SC’,’CR’) and 

siteanat3 not in (‘BA’,’SC’,’CR’)));

If (spcult NE ‘POS’ and cultothr NE ‘POS’) or ((spcult = ‘POS’ or cultothr = ‘POS’) 

and isustest NE ‘Y’) or ((spcult = ‘POS’ or cultothr = ‘POS’) and 

isustest = ‘Y’ and isusrif NE ‘Y’);

AGE = reportdate – datebirth;

If (AGE ge 15 or ((0 le AGE lt 15) and ((xray NE ‘ABN’ or 

(xray =’ABN’ and xraymiliary NE ‘Y’)) and (ctscan NE ‘ABN’ or 

(ctscan =’ABN’ and ctscanmiliary NE ‘Y’)))));

If (cultothr NE ‘POS’ or (cultothr = ‘POS’ and cultothrcode NE ’06’)) and

(NAAtest NE ‘POS’ or (NAAtest = ‘POS’ and NAAcode NE ‘06’))

then cot_total +1;
60

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of expected patients who complete treatment in less than or equal to 366 days 

(cot_yes)

A case is given credit for completing treatment within 1 year if:

Reason Therapy Stopped or Never Started is Completed Therapy

[stopreas = ‘COMPLETED’] 

–AND–

A. MONTH, DAY and YEAR (MDY) of both Date Therapy Started and Date Therapy

Stopped are not Missing [rxmonth NE . and rxday NE . and rxyear NE . and

stopmonth NE . and stopday NE . and stopyear NE .]

–and–

Treatment duration (Date Therapy Stopped - Date Therapy Started)

Treatment duration is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 366 days 

[0 It (MDY(stopmonth, stopday, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, rxday, rxyear)) le 366]

NOTE:

Date Therapy Started = MDY(rxmonth, rxday, rxyear)

Date Therapy Stopped = MDY(stopmonth, stopday, stopyear)

–OR–
61

B. MONTH and YEAR of Date Therapy Started and

MONTH, DAY and YEAR of Date Therapy Stopped are not Missing

[rxmonth NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and stopday NE . and

stopyear NE .] and the DAY field missing for Date Therapy Started is set to 15 

[MDY(rxmonth, 15, rxyear)]

–and–

Treatment duration is greater than 0 and less than or equal to (366 days – 15 days) 

[0 It (MDY(stopmonth, stopday, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, 15, rxyear)) le 351]

–OR–

MONTH, DAY and YEAR of Date Therapy Started and

MONTH and Year of Date Therapy Stopped are not Missing

[rxmonth NE . and rxday NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and

stopyear NE .] and the DAY field missing for Date Therapy Stopped is set to 15 

[MDY(stopmonth, 15, stopyear)]

–and–

Treatment duration is greater than 0 and less than or equal to (366 days – 15 days) 

[0 It (MDY(stopmonth, 15, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, rxday, rxyear)) le 351]

–OR–
62

C. MONTH and YEAR of both Date Therapy Started and Date Therapy Stopped

are not Missing

[rxmonth NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and stopyear NE .] and 

the DAY fields are missing in BOTH dates, the DAYS are set to 15

–and–

Treatment duration is greater than 0 and less than or equal to (366 days – 30 days) 

[0 lt ((MDY(stopmonth, 15, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, 15, rxyear)) le 336]

If stopreas = ‘COMPLETED’;

If ((rxmonth NE . and rxday NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and stopday NE . 

and stopyear NE .) and (0 lt (MDY(stopmonth, stopday, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, rxday, 

rxyear)) le 366))

–OR–

((rxmonth NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and stopyear NE . and rxday = . 

and stopday NE . ) and (0 It (MDY(stopmonth, stopday, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, 15, 

rxyear)) le 351))

–OR–

((rxmonth NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and stopyear NE . and rxday NE . 

and stopday = . ) and (0 It (MDY(stopmonth, 15, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, rxday, rxyear)) 

le 351))

–OR–

((rxmonth NE . and rxyear NE . and stopmonth NE . and stopyear NE . and rxday = . 

and stopday = . ) and (0 It (MDY(stopmonth, 15, stopyear) - MDY(rxmonth, 15, rxyear)) 

le 336))

then cot_yes+1;
63

3. Calculate percent

Percentage of patients with newly diagnosed TB, for whom treatment for 12 months

or less is indicated, who completed treatment within 366 days

[cot_pct]

cot_pct = (cot_yes / cot_total) * 100;
64

Laboratory Turnaround Time – Culture

Indicator

Percent of TB patients who have the identification of M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) from 

culture of respiratory specimens reported within 25 days from the date specimen was collected

NOTE: Indicator implemented for cases reported in 2009 and after.

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 5 (Count Status)

– 6 (Date Counted)

– 18 (Sputum Culture) 

◆ Result

◆ Date collected

◆ Date result reported

– 20 (Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids) 

◆ Result

◆ Date collected

◆ Anatomic code

◊ Upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids

◊ Bronchial fluid

◆ Date result reported

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients who have the identification of MTBC from 

culture of respiratory specimens reported within 25 days from the 

date specimen was collected

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with positive result for culture in respiratory 

specimens (i.e., sputum, upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids, 

and bronchial fluids), counted in the cohort period of interest. 

Patients with positive result for culture in non-respiratory specimen 

or gastric aspirate are excluded
65

1. Obtain denominator

Total patients with positive result for culture in respiratory specimens (i.e., sputum, upper 

respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids, or bronchial fluids), counted in the cohort period of 

interest [tat_cult_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.

–AND–

Sputum culture is positive [spcult = ‘POS’]

–or–

Culture of Tissues and Other Body Fluids is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’] AND

Anatomic Code is reported as upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids (27), bronchial 

fluid (28) 

[cultothrcode in (‘27’, ‘28’)]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y;

If spcult = ‘POS’ or (cultothr = ‘POS’ and cultothrcode in (‘27’, ‘28’))

then tat_cult_total +1;
66

2. Otain numerator

Total number of patients who have the identification of MTBC from culture of

respiratory specimens reported within 25 days from the date specimen was collected

[tat_cult_yes]

A case is indicated to have met the objective if:

Sputum Culture is positive [spcult = ‘POS’] AND Date Result Reported is not Missing

[spcultrpt NE .]

–or–

Culture of Tissue and Other Fluids is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’] 

AND Anatomic Code is reported as upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids (27) or 

bronchial fluid (28) [cultothrcode in (‘27’, ‘28’)] 

AND Date Result Reported is not Missing [cultrpt NE .] 

–AND–

Sputum Culture Date Result Reported is before the Date Result Reported for Culture

of Tissue and Other Fluids [spcultrpt lt cultrpt] 

then turnaround time is the duration between the 

Sputum Culture Date Result Reported and Date Collected

[tat_cult_time = spcultrpt – spcultcol]

Otherwise 

If Date Result Reported for Culture of Tissue and Other Fluids is before

Sputum Culture Date Result Reported [cultrpt lt spcultrpt]

then turnaround time is the duration between Date Result Reported

and Date Collected for Culture of Tissue and Other Fluids

[tat_cult_time = cultrpt – cultcol]

–and–(continue next page)
67

Turnaround time is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 25 days

[0 LE tat_cult_time LE 25]

Note: If sputum culture is not positive or Sputum Culture Date Result Reported is

missing, then sputum culture is excluded from the turnaround time calculation.

Conversely, if Culture of Tissue and Other Fluids is not positive or Date Result Reported

for Culture of Tissue and Other Fluids is missing, then culture of tissue and other fluids

is excluded from the turnaround time calculation.

If spcult = ‘POS’ and spcultrpt NE . or

((cultothr = ‘POS’ and cultothrcode in (‘27’, ‘28’)) and cultrpt NE . ) and spcultrpt lt 

cultrpt) then tat_cult_time = spcultrpt – spcultcol;

Else

tat_cult_time = cultothrrpt – cultothrcol;

If 0 LE tat_cult_time LE 25 then tat_cult_yes +1;

3. Calculate percent

Percent of patients with the identification of MTBC reported within 25 days from the date the 

specimen was collected [tat_cult_pct]

tat_cult_pct = (tat_cult_yes / tat_cult_total) * 100;
68

Laboratory Turnaround Time – NAA

Indicator

Percent of TB patients who have the detection of M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) by nucleic 

acid amplification (NAA) testing from respiratory specimens reported within 6 days from the date 

specimen was collected

NOTE: Indicator implemented for cases reported in 2009 and after.

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 5 (Count Status)

– 6 (Date Counted)

– 21 (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result) 

◆ Result

◆ Date collected

◆ Anatomic code

◊ Upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluid,

◊ Bronchial fluid

◆ Date result reported

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients who have the detection of MTBC reported 

within 6 days from the date of specimen collection

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with positive result for NAA test in respiratory 

specimens (i.e., sputum, upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids, 

and bronchial fluid), counted in the cohort period of interest. Patients 

with positive result for NAA test on non-respiratory specimen or 

gastric aspirate are excluded

1. Obtain denominator

Total patients with positive result for NAA test in respiratory specimens (i.e., sputum, upper 

respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids, and bronchial fluid), counted in the cohort period of 

interest [tat_NAA_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Verified and counted in the cohort period of interest [vercase = ‘Y’]

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.
69

–AND–

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Result is positive [NAAtest = ‘POS’] AND 

NAA Specimen is Sputum [NAAsputum = ‘Y’] or upper respiratory fluids or tracheal fluids, 

bronchial fluids [NAAcode in (‘27’, ‘28’)]

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercase = ‘Y;

If (NAAtest = ‘POS’ and (NAAsputum = ‘Y’ or NAAcode in (‘27’, ‘28’)))

then tat_NAA_total +1;

2. Obtain numerator

Total number patients who have the detection of MTBC reported within 6 days

from the date of specimen collection [tat_NAA_yes]

A case is indicated to have met the objective if:

Turnaround time for NAA (the time between Date Result Reported and Date Collected)

[tat_NAA_time = naarpt – naacol] is greater than or equal to 0 and less than

or equal to 6 days

[0 LE tat_NAA_time LE 6]

tat_NAA_time = NAArpt – NAAcol;

If 0 LE tat_NAA_time LE 6 then tat_NAA_yes +1;
70

3. Calculate percent

Percent of TB patients who have the detection of MTBC by NAA testing from

respiratory specimens reported within 6 days from the date specimen was collected

[tat_NAA_pct]

tat_NAA_pct = (tat_NAA_yes / tat_NAA_total) * 100;
71

Drug-Susceptibility Result 

Indicator

Percent of TB patients with positive culture result who have initial drug-susceptibility 

results reported

DATA SOURCES

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 18 (Sputum Culture)

– 20 (Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluid)

– 39 (Initial Drug Susceptibility Testing)

– 40 (Initial Drug Susceptibility Results)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients with initial drug-susceptibility results reported

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with positive culture result, counted in the 

cohort period of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total TB patients with positive culture result, counted in the year of interest

[dst_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Sputum Culture is Positive [spcult = ‘POS’]

–or–

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’]

NOTE: vercrit = ‘Positive Culture’ can also be used in place of the above.

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.
72

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercount = ‘Y’;

If spcult = ‘POS’ or cultothr = ‘POS’ then dst_total + 1;

2. Obtain numerator 

Total number of TB patients with positive culture result with initial drug-susceptibility (DST) 

results reported [dst_yes]

A case is given credit for having drug susceptibility testing done if:

Initial Drug Susceptibility Testing is YES [isustest = ‘ Y’] 

–AND–

Initial Drug Susceptibility Results for 

Isoniazid is either Resistant or Susceptible [isusinh in (‘R’,’S’)] 

–and–

Rifampin is either Resistant or Susceptible [isusrif in (‘R’,’S’)]

–and–

Ethambutol is either Resistant or Susceptible [isusemb in (‘R’,’S’)]

NOTE: Initial DST results for ethambutol are included in the indicator calculation for TB 

cases reported in 2013 and after.
73

If isustest = ‘Y’ and isusinh in (‘R’,’S’) and isusrif in (‘R’,’S’) and isusemb in (‘R’,’S’) 

then dst_yes + 1;

3. Calculate percent

Percentage of culture-positive TB cases with initial drug-susceptibility results reported 

[dst_pct]

dst_pct = (dst_yes / dst_total) * 100;
74

Universal Genotyping

Indicator

Percent of TB patients with positive culture result who have an isolate submitted for genotyping 

and linked to the RVCT record

NOTE: Indicator implemented for cases reported in 2005 and after.

DATA SOURCES 

■ National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS)

• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) fields:

– 18 (Sputum Culture)

– 20 (Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluid)

■ National Tuberculosis Genotyping Information Management System (TB GIMS)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of TB patients with an isolate submitted for genotyping and 

linked to the RVCT record

Denominator (N) Number of TB patients with positive culture result, counted in the 

cohort period of interest

1. Obtain denominator

Total TB patients with positive culture result, counted in the year of interest 

[geno_total]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Sputum Culture is Positive [spcult = ‘POS’]

–or–

–or–

Culture of Tissue and Other Body Fluids is Positive [cultothr = ‘POS’]

NOTE: vercrit = ‘Positive Culture’ can also be used in place of the above.

See definition and calculation for Verified Counted TB Cases.
75

If cntdate ge ‘YYYYMM’ and cntdate le ‘YYYYMM’;

If vercount = ‘Y’;

If spcult = ‘POS’ or cultothr = ‘POS’

then geno_total + 1;

2. Obtain numerator 

Total number of TB patients with culture positive result who have an isolate submitted for 

genotyping and linked to the RVCT record [geno_yes]

A case receives credit for genotyping if:

The genotyping result for the isolate is linked to a RVCT record. 

NOTE: Cases are not given credit if the genotyping results are not linked to a RVCT record 

with a valid State Case Number. The figure above shows a sample list of cases from TB GIMS’ 

Training Website that have not been linked to the RVCT. The State Case Numbers for these 

isolates are missing.

If linked = ‘Y’ then geno_yes + 1;
76

3. Calculate percent

Percent of TB patients with positive culture result who have an isolate submitted for 

genotyping and linked to the RVCT record [geno_pct]

geno_pct = (geno_yes / geno_total) * 100;
77

III. Calculation for Indicators using Data from 

the Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System

Data used in the calculation for monitoring Examination of Immigrants and Refugees are 

collected in the Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System. The system contains immigrant 

and refugee applicant medical data from the U.S. Department of State. EDN notifies state and 

local health departments of individuals with TB Class B notification arriving in their jurisdiction 

to facilitate follow-up. Data on the follow-up of these individuals are collected by local 

jurisdictions on the TB Follow-up Worksheet and submitted back to CDC through EDN.

The national indicators focuses on the follow-up medical examination of refugees and immigrants 

arriving in the United States with TB Class B notification, specifically those with abnormal chest 

X-rays read overseas as suggestive of TB.

Instructions and definitions of data collected in EDN are referenced in the TB Follow-up 

Worksheet Guide.

NOTE: NTIP indicators are calculated based on the primary jurisdiction of arrival. TB programs 

can use EDN to electronically notify other jurisdictions of Class B individuals who move to 

another jurisdiction before completing their Class B examination and treatment.
78

Immigrants and Refugees with Abnormal Chest X-Ray 

Consistent with TB

Immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent with TB are 

defined as those with “abnormal finding” indicated on chest radiographs (X-rays) and indicated 

to have conditions that are suggestive of tuberculosis.

For individuals examined using TB Technical Instruction (TI) 1991:

■ U.S. Department of State, Chest X-ray and Classification Worksheet 

DS-3024 published September 2007

• Chest X-ray Findings: Abnormal Findings 

– Can suggest active TB

– Can suggest inactive TB

For individuals examined using TB TI 2007:

■ U.S. Department of State, Chest X-ray and Classification Worksheet

DS-3030 published July 2010

• Chest X-ray Findings: Abnormal Findings

– Can suggest Tuberculosis

Or

■ U.S. Department of State, Tuberculosis Worksheet

DS-3030 published September 2014

• Chest X-ray Findings: Abnormal Findings

– Can suggest Tuberculosis

Individuals are included in the analytic cohort if:

Chest X-ray Findings is Abnormal [xrayfinding = ‘ABNORMAL’] 

TI 91: DS-3024 Form or TI 07: DS-3030 Form

–AND–
79

Suggest TB is Can Suggest Active TB, Can Suggest Inactive TB

(or any item(s) checked under Can Suggest Active TB and Can Suggest Inactive TB

categories) 

TI 91: DS-3024 Form (published 09-2007)

–or–

Suggest TB is Can Suggest TB (or any item(s) checked under the Can Suggest TB category) 

TI 07: DS-3030 Form (published 07-2010) 

–or–

Suggest TB is Infiltrate, CavitaryLesion, Nodule, Pleural, HilarAdenopathy, Miliary, 

DiscreteLinear, DiscreteNodule, VolumeLoss, Other

TI 07: DS-3030 Form (published 09-2014)

[Suggesttb in (‘Suggest ACTIVE’, ‘Suggest INACTIVE’, ‘Suggest TB’, ‘Infiltrate’, 

‘CavitaryLesion’, ‘Nodule’, ‘Pleural’, ‘HilarAdenopathy’, ‘Miliary’, ‘DiscreteLinear’, 

‘DiscreteNodule’, ‘VolumeLoss’, ‘Other’)]
80

If [xrayfinding = ‘ABNORMAL’ and Suggesttb in (‘Suggest ACTIVE’, ‘Suggest INACTIVE’, 

‘Suggest TB’, ‘Infiltrate’, ‘CavitaryLesion’, ‘Nodule’, ‘Pleural’, ‘HilarAdenopathy’, 

‘Miliary’, ‘DiscreteLinear’, ‘DiscreteNodule’, ‘VolumeLoss’, ‘Other’)]

then rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’;

NOTE: All immigrants and refugees including in the cohort are based on the primary 

jurisdiction of arrival.
81

Immigrants and Refugees – Examination Initiation

Indicator

Percent of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent with 

TB who initiated medical examination within 30 days of notification

NOTE: Indicator implemented for immigrants and refugees arrived in 2008 and after.

DATA SOURCES

■ Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System 

• TB Follow-up Worksheet fields:

– A4 (Initial U.S. Entry Date)

– C1 (Date of Initial U.S. Medical Evaluation)

• EDN system notification date

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of immigrants and refugees who initiated medical 

examination within 30 days of notification by EDN

Denominator (N) Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read 

overseas as consistent with TB who arrived in the cohort period of 

interest 
82

1. Obtain denominator 

Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent 

with TB, arrived in the cohort period of interest [rfg_abntotal]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if: 

Initial U.S. Entry Date is greater than or equal to year-month and less than or equal 

to year-month

(dateofarrival ge ‘YYYYMM’ and dateofarrival le ‘YYYYMM’)

TB Follow-up Worksheet

–and–

Record met the cohort criteria for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-ray 

consistent with TB (if rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’) 

If (dateofarrival ge ‘YYYYMM’ and dateofarrival le ‘YYYYMM’) and rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’ 

then rfg_abnxtotal +1

2. Obtain numerator

Number of immigrants and refugees who initiated medical examination within 30 days of 

notification [rfg_initeval_obj]

A record is given credit for having initiated medical examination within 30 days of notification 

by EDN if: 

Date of initial U.S. medical evaluation is NOT MISSING [dateiniteval NE . ]

TB Follow-up Worksheet

–and–

Duration from the Date of Notification to the Date of initial U.S. medical evaluation is less 

than or equal to 30 days [timeiniteval = dateiniteval – datenotification], 

[timeiniteval le 30]

NOTE: The Date of Notification is generated by the EDN system at the time of email is sent 

to the local jurisdiction.
83

timeiniteval = dateiniteval – dateofnotification;

If dateiniteval NE . and timeiniteval le 30 then rfg_initeval_obj +1;

3. Calculate percent

Percent of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent 

with TB who initiated medical examination within 30 days of notification [rfg_initeval_pct]

rfg_initeval_pct = (rfg_initeval_obj / rfg_abnx_tb)*100;
84

Immigrants and Refugees – Examination Completion

Indicator

Percent of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent with 

TB who completed medical examination within 90 days of notification

NOTE: Indicator implemented for immigrants and refugees arrived in 2008 and after.

DATA SOURCES

■ Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System

• TB Follow-up Worksheet fields:

– A4 (Initial U.S. Entry Date)

– D1 (Disposition Date)

– D2 (Evaluation Disposition)

◆ Completed Evaluation

◆ Treatment Recommended

– D3 (Diagnosis)

• EDN system notification date

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of immigrants and refugees who completed medical 

examination within 90 days of notification by EDN

Denominator (N) Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays 

read overseas as consistent with TB who arrived in the cohort period 

of interest
85

1. Obtain denominator 

Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent 

with TB, arrived in the cohort period of interest [rfg_abntotal]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Initial U.S. Entry Date is greater than or equal to year-month and less than or equal to 

year-month

[dateofarrival ge ‘YYYYMM’ and dateofarrival le ‘YYYYMM’]

TB Follow-up Worksheet

–and–

Record met the cohort criteria for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-ray 

consistent with TB [rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’]

If dateofarrival ge ‘YYYYMM’ and dateofarrival le ‘YYYYMM’ and rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’

then rfg_abntotal +1;

2. Obtain numerator 

Number of eligible immigrants and refugees who completed medical examination within 

90 days of notification [rfg_comeval_obj]

NOTE: The Date of Notification is generated by the EDN system at the time of email is sent 

to the local jurisdiction.

A case is given credit for having completed medical examination within 90 days of 

notification 

by EDN if:
86

Evaluation disposition is Completed evaluation [evaldisposition = ‘COMPLETED’] and 

treatment recommended is NOT Missing [txrecc NE . ] 

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2013)

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2007)

–AND–

Diagnosis is NOT MISSING [diagnosis NE . ] 

TB Follow-up Worksheet 

–AND–
87

Evaluation Disposition Date is NOT MISSING [datedisposition NE .]

TB Follow-up Worksheet 

–and–

Duration from the Date of Notification to the Evaluation Disposition date is 

less than or equal to 90 days [timecomeval = datedisposition – datenotification],

[timecomeval le 90]

timecomeval = datedisposition – datenotification; 

If evaldisposition = ‘COMPLETED’ and txrecc NE . and diagnosis NE . and datedisposition 

NE . and timecomeval le 90 then rfg_comeval_obj +1;

3. Calculate percent

Percent of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent with 

TB who completed medical examination within 90 days of notification by the EDN system 

[rfg_comeval_pct]

rfg_comeval_pct = (rfg_comeval_obj / rfg_abnx_tb) * 100;
88

Immigrants and Refugees – Treatment Initiation

Indicator

Percent treatment initiation for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read 

overseas as consistent with TB who are diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI) or have 

radiographic findings consistent with prior pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and who are 

recommended for treatment on the basis of examination in the United States

NOTE: Indicator implemented for immigrants and refugees arrived in 2008 and after.

DATA SOURCES

■ Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System

• TB Follow-up Worksheet fields:

– A4 (Initial U.S. Entry Date)

– D2 (Evaluation Disposition)

◆ Completed Evaluation

◆ Treatment recommended

– D3 (Diagnosis)

– E1 (U.S. Treatment Initiated)

– E2 (U.S. Treatment Start Date)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of immigrants and refugees who started treatment

Denominator (N) Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays 

read overseas as consistent with TB who are diagnosed with latent 

TB infection or have radiographic findings consistent with prior 

pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and who are recommended for 

treatment on the basis of examination in the U. S., arrived in the 

cohort period of interest
89

1. Obtain denominator

Total number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as 

consistent with TB who are diagnosed with latent TB infection or have radiographic findings 

consistent with prior pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and who are recommended for 

treatment on the basis of examination in the U.S., arrived in the cohort period of interest 

[rfg_starttx_cohort]

A case is included in the analytical cohort if:

Initial U.S. Entry Date is greater than or equal to year-month and less than or equal 

to year-month 

[dateofarrival ge ‘YYYYMM’ and dateofarrival le ‘YYYYMM’]

TB Follow-up Worksheet 

–and–

Record met the cohort criteria for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-ray 

consistent with TB [rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’]

–AND-
90

Evaluation disposition is Completed evaluation [evaldisposition = ‘COMPLETED’]

and Treatment recommended equal to ‘Yes’

[txrecc = ‘Yes’]

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2013)

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2007)

–AND–

Diagnosis is Class 2 – TB infection, no disease, Class 4 – TB, inactive disease

[diagnosis IN (‘infection’, ‘inactivedisease’)]

TB Follow-up Worksheet 

If dateofarrival ge ‘YYYYMM’ and dateofarrival le ‘YYYYMM’ and rfg = ‘ABNX_TB’; 

If evaldisposition = ‘COMPLETED’ and txrecc = ‘Yes’ and diagnosis IN 

(‘infection’,’inactivedisease’)

then rfg_starttx_cohort +1;
91

2. Obtain numerator

Total number of immigrants and refugees who started treatment [rfg_starttx_obj]

A patient is given credit for having started treatment if:

U.S. Treatment Initiated is YES for LTBI or TB disease [UStreatmentinit IN (‘LTBI’, 

‘TBdisease’) ] and Treatment Start Date is NOT MISSING [UStreatmentstartdate NE . ]

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2013)

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2007)

NOTE: A record is given credit for having started treatment if either treatment for LTBI or 

TB disease is marked. 

If UStreatmentinit IN (‘LTBI’, ‘TBdisease’) and UStreatmentstartdate NE . then 

rfg_starttx_obj +1; 
92

3. Calculate percent

Percentage treatment initiation for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays 

read overseas as consistent with TB who are diagnosed with latent TB infection or have 

radiographic findings consistent with prior pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and who are 

recommended for treatment on the basis of examination in the U.S. 

[rfg_starttx_pct]

rfg_starttx_pct = (rfg_starttx_obj/rfg_starttx_cohort) * 100;
93

Immigrants and Refugees – Treatment Completion

Indicator

Percent treatment completion for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read 

overseas as consistent with TB who are diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI) or have 

radiographic findings consistent with prior pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and recommended 

for treatment on the basis of examination in the United States, who have started treatment

NOTE: Indicator implemented for immigrants and refugees arrived in 2008 and after.

DATA SOURCES

■ Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) System

• TB Follow-up Worksheet fields:

– A4 (Initial U.S. Entry Date)

– D2 (Evaluation Disposition)

– D3 (Diagnosis)

– E1 (U.S. Treatment Initiated)

– E2 (U.S. Treatment Start Date)

– E3 (U.S. Treatment Completed)

– E4 (U.S. Treatment End Date)

CALCULATION

Percent (%) n/N × 100

Numerator (n) Number of immigrants and refugees who completed treatment

Denominator (N) Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays 

read overseas as consistent with TB who are diagnosed with latent 

TB infection or have radiographic findings consistent with prior 

pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and recommended for treatment on 

the basis of examination in the U. S., who started treatment, arrived 

in the cohort period of interest
94

1. Obtain denominator

Number of immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest X-rays read overseas as consistent 

with TB who are diagnosed with latent TB infection or have radiographic findings consistent 

with prior pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and recommended for treatment on the basis of 

examination in the U.S., who started treatment, arrived in the cohort period of interest 

[rfg_compLTBI_cohort]

A patient is included in the analytical cohort if:

The record met the cohort criteria for starting treatment in the U.S. 

[rfg_starttx_cohort = ‘Y’] 

–and–

U.S. Treatment Initiated is YES for LTBI or TB disease [UStreatmentinit IN (‘LTBI’, 

‘TBdisease’)] and Treatment Start Date is NOT MISSING [UStreatmentstartdate NE . ]

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2013)

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2007)

NOTE: A record is given credit for having completed treatment if either treatment for 

LTBI or TB disease is completed. 

If rfg_starttx_cohort = ‘Y’ and UStreatmentinit IN (‘LTBI’, ‘TBdisease’) and

UStreatmentstartdate NE . then rfg_comptx_cohort +1; 
95

2. Obtain numerator

Number of immigrants and refugees diagnosed who completed treatment 

[rfg_completed]

A patient is given credit for having completed treatment if:

U.S. Treatment Completed is YES [UStreatmentcomp = ‘Y’] and Treatment completion date 

(2013) or Treatment end date (2007) is NOT MISSING [UStreatmentenddate NE . ]

NOTE: Treatment completion date (2013) and Treatment end date (2007) are represented 

as one variable name ‘UStreatmentenddate’.

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2013)

TB Follow-up Worksheet (published 2007)

If UStreatmentcomp = ‘Y’ and UStreatmentenddate NE . then rfg_completed +1;
96

3. Calculate percent

Percentage treatment completion for immigrants and refugees with abnormal chest 

X-rays read overseas as consistent with TB who are diagnosed withl latent TB infection 

or have radiographic findings consistent with prior pulmonary TB (ATS/CDC Class 4) and 

recommended for treatment on the basis of examination in the U.S., and have started 

treatment [rfg_comptx_pct]

rfg_comptx_pct = (rfg_completed/rfg_comptx_cohort) * 100;
97

IV. Electronic Data Submission for 

Aggregate Reports for Tuberculosis Program Evaluation 

(ARPE) on Contact Investigation

NTIP’s ARPE online module provides an option for TB programs to submit ARPE - Contact 

Investigation data to CDC electronically. The State TB Systems Administrator has the authority 

to grant access to ARPE users who are designated to submit or manage ARPE. The data for the 

Contact Investigation reports in NTIP are updated immediately upon the submission of ARPE 

data through this module. 

Through this module, users can –

A Add a new ARPE Form: To prepare a new ARPE form for submission. 

B Search ARPE Form: To provide updates or corrections to ARPE data. 

C Upload ARPE Form: Import ARPE data into NTIP from other electronic formats through a 

spreadsheet. 

D Export ARPE Form: Export and download a copy of ARPE data available in NTIP.

A

B

C

D
98

Submitting ARPE Data

To prepare an ARPE form for submission:

1. Select “ARPE” from the NTIP Menu.

2. On the ARPE Main Menu screen, click on the Add ARPE form link. The Add ARPE Form

screen will be displayed. 

3. Select a Reporting Area (i.e., Program Area or jurisdiction) for which you would like to submit 

the ARPE data.

4. Select a Case Year (or cohort period) for reporting.

5. Click “Select” button to generate an ARPE Form. 

6. Enter data fields on section A and B.

7. Click “Submit” to submit ARPE to CDC.
99

ARPE Form 

The ARPE data submission form mirrors the paper based ARPE form. Instructions on ARPE can be 

found in the Aggregate Reports for Tuberculosis Program Evaluation (for Contacts): Training Manual 

and User’s Guide, http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/PDF/ARPEs_manualsm1.pdf

A

C

B

D

E

A Reporting Area/Cohort year/Date Report Updated: Title information for the report. 

B Part I. Case and contacts: This section includes key data elements for contact investigations. 

References on variable definitions can be found in the ARPE manual. 

C Part II. Evaluation Indices: Evaluation indices are automatically calculated based on the 

data entered in the Case and Contact section. The fields are pre-filled with “N/A” until data are 

entered into the Case and Contact section. The indicator calculations are listed next to each 

field.
100

D Submit/Cancel: Once data are entered, users can click “Submit” to submit the ARPE form or 

click “Cancel” to erase the data they have entered on the ARPE form. 

E Print: ARPE form can be printed using the print button.
101

Part I. Cases and Contacts Section at a Glance

A B

A Sputum smear+ cases reported in RVCT: The numbers of cases with positive sputum smear 

results reported in the RVCT for the cohort period. 

B Sputum smear- cult+ cases reported in RVCT: The number of cases with negative sputum 

smear and positive culture results reported in the RVCT. 

NOTE: These two numbers are provided as references and are not used in the indicator 

calculation. Users can export a line list of cases and their sputum smear and culture results for 

their Program Areas through the Line List function in NTIP by selecting “Contact Investigation” 

as the indicator.
102

Editing ARPE Data

Once an ARPE form has been added or submitted to NTIP, users can make updates to the data 

by searching for and editing an ARPE form. 

To update ARPE data:

1. On the ARPE Main Menu click on the Search ARPE Form link; the Search ARPE Form screen 

will be displayed. 

2. Select a Program Area.

3. Select a Year.

4. Click “Select” button.

5. Make changes and click “Update” to save.
103

Uploading ARPE Form

The Upload ARPE Form option allows users to import ARPE data for multiple jurisdictions 

directly into NTIP. A template spreadsheet customized for ARPE Upload is available for download 

on the Online Help Section of NTIP. 

The ARPE Upload Form Template is an Excel spreadsheet consisting of 3 tabs: 

1. Spreadsheet Instruction

2. Upload Instruction

3. ARPE Upload Template 

The third tab, ARPE Upload Template, contains the headers of all the variables in the order that 

they need to be entered.
104

ARPE Spreadsheet for Upload 

B C

A

D E

A Variable names (Row 1): The header must appear as the first row in the ARPE upload layout 

file (cells A1 to cells AS1). The names of ARPE variables to be imported into the system are 

listed on this row. Data should be entered in the order listed. Download ARPE Upload Template 

for a complete list of variables.

B Reporting Area: Reporting Areas are also called Program Areas or reporting areas. The 

complete name of the reporting area must be used; for example, California, not the abbreviation 

CA should be entered on the spreadsheet. The standard names are listed under Reporting Area 

on the Add ARPE Form. Enter the program area name exactly as it is displayed on the Add ARPE 

Form. For example, Alameda excluding Berkeley [CA], Anchorage [AK], California [Excludes LA - 

SD - SF], Public Health Area 1 [AL], Washington [Excludes Seattle King County]. 

C Cohort year: Data can be uploaded for cohort year 2008 and later. Multiple time periods can 

be loaded in a spreadsheet. Enter the field as a 4-digit number (e.g., 2008). 

D Closure date: The “closure_date” field format should be mm/dd/yyyy or m/d/yyyy. For single 

digit days and months, 10/01/2010 or 10/1/2010 is acceptable; 01/15/2010 and 1/15/2010 

are also acceptable.  

E Missing data: In fields where data is not entered or is missing, the missing data will be 

recorded as a blank cell in the NTIP report for Contact Investigation.

NOTE: The “Report_area” and “Cohort_year” are required fields. Both fields must have valid 

values in order for the upload to be successful. Spreadsheets should be saved as comma 

delimited (.csv) documents.
105

To upload ARPE form:

1. On the ARPE Main Menu screen click on the Upload ARPE form link; the Upload ARPE 

Form screen will be displayed. 

2. Browse to select the file to be uploaded. Only documents with csv or txt file extensions will 

be accepted. 

3. Click “Submit.”

NOTE: When an error occurs during processing, the entire file is rejected. If an error is 

encountered, the application will give the user an error message explaining the problem. Once 

the error has been corrected, please attempt to upload the file again.      
106

Exporting ARPE Form

ARPE data can be exported by the user for further analysis. Users will only be able to export data 

for Reporting Areas that they have been granted access to for ARPE. 

To export ARPE data:

1. On the ARPE Main Menu screen click the Export ARPE Form link; the Export 

ARPE Form screen will be displayed.

2. Select the Reporting Area(s).

3. Select the Year(s).

4. Click “Select.”

5. Once exported, ARPE data can be saved or opened using Microsoft Excel.
107

Appendix A: U.S. Census Population Estimates 

This section outlines step-by-step how CDC personnel obtain the population data used to 

calculate TB incidence rate in NTIP.

The population dataset for Population Estimates can be accessed through the U.S. Census 

Bureau website at http://www.census.gov/popest/
108

The Current Estimates page provides a table of choices for the population level and type you may 

be interested in. For the national population estimate, select V2014 (or Vintage 2014) under 

Total Population for the nation.

A collection of tables are available under the Vintage 2014 National Totals. Select the Excel 

(XLS) version of the Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, 

States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014.
109

A pop-up menu will appear to ask you whether you want to open or save the file. Choose open.

An Excel file will open with population summaries by state, region and national total for Census 

2010 and annual estimates for mid-year 2010 through mid-year 2014, the most current 

data available. The current national population estimate for the United States for 2014 is 

318,857,056 persons.
110
111

Appendix B: American Community Survey

This section outlines step-by-step how CDC personnel obtain the population data used to 

calculate case rates in NTIP.

The population dataset for American Community Survey (ACS) can be accessed through 

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/
112

Under the Data and Documentation drop-down menu, select Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS).

Under the Public Use Microdata Sample list on the left of the page, select PUMS Data. A list of 

data available through the American FactFinder website will be listed. Select the latest available 

1-year PUMS data for example, 2011 ACS 1-year PUMS.
113

This selection gives you two options: The 2011 ACS 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample in 

CSV (comma separated values) format and the 2011 ACS 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample 

in SAS data set format. Select SAS data set format to run analysis in SAS. Select CSV format for 

review in Microsoft Excel.

Listed are the available files in CSV format. Select state Population Records of interest.
114

Below is a sample spreadsheet opened in Excel with a complete list of variables from ACS. 

Highlighted in yellow are 6 variables needed for determining the population estimates.
115

Six variables are extracted in the spreadsheet below.

PUMA (Public use microdata areas) - used to define the geographic area of specific jurisdiction 

within a state boundary if needed 

PWGTP (Person weight) - estimates how many people in the population are represented by each 

sample record 

AGEP - Age of an individual

HISP (Hispanic ethnicity) - 1 = non-Hispanics, 2-24 = Hispanics

NATIVITY - 1 = Native born, 2 = foreign-born 

RAC1P (race) - 1 = White alone, 2 = Black or African American alone, 3 = American Indian 

alone, 4 = Alaska Native alone, 5 = American Indian and Alaska Native tribes specified (or 

American Indian or Alaska native, not specified and no other races), 6 = Asian alone, 7 = Native 

Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, 8 = Some other race alone, and 9 = Two or more 

major race groups. 
116

Definitions for population estimates

■ Total population = sum of all PWGTP (person weight estimates)

■ Population of U.S-born persons = sum of all PWGTP where NATIVITY = 1

■ Population of foreign-born persons = sum of all PWGTP where NATIVITY = 2

■ Population of U.S.-bornnon-Hispanic blacks or African Americans = sum of all 

PWGTP where (NATIVITY = 1 and HISP = 1 and RAC1P = 2)

■ Population of children younger than 5 years of age = sum of all PWGTP where 

(0 le AGEP le 4)

Resources

The U.S. Census Bureau website

www.census.gov

CS 254627