title: Evaluation of HIV incidence surveillance in New York City, 2006.
abstract: In 2005, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented a standardized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence surveillance protocol based on the serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion deployed nationwide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We evaluated four key attributes of NYC's HIV incidence surveillance system-simplicity, data quality, timeliness, and acceptability--using CDC's guidelines for surveillance system evaluation. The evaluation revealed that the system could potentially provide HIV incidence estimates stratified by borough and major demographic groups at about nine months after the period of interest. The system strengths include its relative simplicity and integration with routine HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome surveillance. Weaknesses include lack of completeness of testing history information, a critical component of incidence estimation. Continued improvements in data completeness and timeliness will improve the currently available information to inform personnel who develop HIV-prevention programs and policy initiatives in NYC and nationally.
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 233 Broadway, 26th Floor, CN-6W, New York, NY 10279, USA. hnair@health.nyc.gov
authors.forename: Hemanth P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Lucia V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Torian
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forgione
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Begier
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors