[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 120 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31529-31530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15718]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30 DAY-13]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request more information on these 
projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-7090. 
Send written comments to Wilma Johnson, CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 
1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should 
be received within 30 days of this notice.
    The following requests have been submitted for review since the 
last publication date on May 29, 1996.

Proposed Project

    1. Assessment of the Training Needs of Clinical and Environmental 
Laboratories--New--The National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN) was 
established in 1989 through a cooperative agreement between the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State 
and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors (ASTPHLD). Its 
mission is to enhance the quality of laboratory testing in the nation's 
laboratories by providing training necessary for laboratory staff to 
improve their knowledge and skills in all aspects of the testing 
process. To accomplish

[[Page 31530]]

this mission, seven NLTN offices were established at various sites 
throughout the nation giving all states and territories access to 
laboratory training through this Network.
    NLTN staff was charged with (1) Assessing the training needs (2) 
developing programs, (3) delivering training and, (4) evaluating the 
effectiveness of the training. Staff in the seven offices must meet 
unique needs in the geographical area for which they are responsible. 
Assessing need is particularly important because more than 100,000 
laboratories are doing 16,380 different tests of 631 analytes. NLTN 
staff must determine the most efficient and effective means to provide 
training where the greatest need exits.
    Need for training in laboratories may be dependent on where the 
laboratories are located and what population they serve. For example, 
small laboratories in physicians' offices (POLs) may have very 
different needs than large, independent laboratories, hospital or state 
laboratories. Manufacturers develop different products for laboratories 
that test in high volumes and can afford very sophisticated equipment 
than for small laboratories that do a limited number of tests. 
Education and training of personnel in the laboratories also very 
considerably. Current training needs are vastly different for people 
who have complete bachelor's degrees in medical technology or a science 
and those who have no formal laboratory education.
    This information collection request is for clearance of a bank of 
questions from which NLTN staff may periodically select certain ones to 
use in survey to assess needs--and for flexibility to develop questions 
in specified formats to address specific practices related to the many 
tests available. This will allow the NLTN to focus on the appropriate 
lab type, target audience and test.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Avg.  
                                                     Number of   burden/
             Respondents                Number of   responses/  response
                                       respondents  respondent     (in  
                                                                  hrs.) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laboratory...........................      2,800            1        0.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total annual burden is 1400. Send comments to Desk officer, 
CDC; Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, 
Room 10235; Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: June 14, 1996.
Wilma G. Johnson,
Acting Associate Director of Policy Planning And Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-15718 Filed 6-19-96; 8:45 am]
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