title: Utilization of case definitions and laboratory reporting in the surveillance of notifiable communicable diseases in the United States.
abstract: In 1984, questionnaires were sent to the chief epidemiologist in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC, with a 100 per cent response rate. There were substantial variations in case definitions of reportable diseases, criteria for counting as a case, and sources of surveillance. Laboratory reporting of any notifiable condition is mandated by 54 per cent of jurisdictions. These differences in ascertainment and case-counting practices constitute potential sources of error in national surveillance data on communicable diseases.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004813:Epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011635:Public Health Administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States