OBJECTIVES: Supplemental federal funding is allocated to state and local tuberculosis (TB) programs using a formula that considers only countable cases reported to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS). Health departments submit reports of cases, which are countable unless another (US or international) jurisdiction has already counted the case or the case represents a recurrence of TB diagnosed </=12 months after completion of treatment for a previous TB episode. Noncountable cases are a resource burden, so in 2009, NTSS began accepting noncountable case reports as an indicator of program burden. We sought to describe the volume and completeness of noncountable case reports. METHODS: We analyzed 2010-2014 NTSS data to determine the number and distribution of noncountable cases reported. We also surveyed jurisdictions to determine the completeness of noncountable case reporting and obtain information on jurisdictions' experience in reporting noncountable cases. In addition, we prepared a hypothetical recalculation of the funding formula to evaluate the effect of including noncountable cases on funding allocations. RESULTS: Of 54 067 TB case reports analyzed, 1720 (3.2%) were noncountable; 47 of 60 (78.3%) jurisdictions reported >/=1 noncountable case. Of 60 programs surveyed, 34 (56.7%) responded. Of the 34 programs that responded, 24 (70.6%) had not reported all their noncountable cases to NTSS, and 11 (32.4%) stated that reporting noncountable cases was overly burdensome, considering the cases were not funded. CONCLUSIONS: Complete data on noncountable TB cases help support estimates of programmatic burden. Ongoing training and a streamlined reporting system to NTSS can facilitate noncountable case reporting.

INTRODUCTION: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS) is the national repository of tuberculosis (TB) data in the United States. Jurisdictions report to NTSS through the Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) form that transitioned to a web-based system in 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To improve RVCT data quality, CDC conducted a quality assurance (QA) needs assessment to develop QA strategies. These include QA components (case detection, data accuracy, completeness, timeliness, data security, and confidentiality); sample tools such as National TB Indicators Project (NTIP) to identify TB case reporting discrepancies; comprehensive training course; resource guide and toolkit. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: During July-September 2011, 73 staff from 34 (57%) of 60 reporting jurisdictions participated in QA training. Participants stated usefulness of sharing jurisdictions' QA methods; 66 (93%) wrote that the QA tools will be effective for their activities. Several jurisdictions reported implementation of QA tools pertinent to their programs. Data showed >8% increase in NTSS and NTIP enrollment through Secure Access Management Services, which monitors system usage, from August 2011-February 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges imposed by web-based surveillance systems, QA strategies can be developed with innovation and collaboration. These strategies can also be used by other disease programs to ensure high data quality.

OBJECTIVES: We examined demographic, clinical, and treatment outcome characteristics of Filipinos with tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. METHODS: We calculated TB case rates from US Census Bureau population estimates and National Tuberculosis Surveillance System data for US-born non-Hispanic Whites and for US residents born in the Philippines, India, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Korea- countries that are major contributors to the TB burden in the United States. We compared Filipinos with the other groups through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of 45504 TB patients, 15.5% were Filipinos; 43.0% were other Asian/Pacific Islander groups; and 41.6% were Whites. Per 100000 persons in 2007, the TB rate was 73.5 among Cambodians, 54.0 among Vietnamese, 52.1 among Filipinos, and 0.9 among Whites. Filipinos were more likely than other groups to be employed as health care workers and to have used private health care providers but less likely to be HIV positive and to be offered HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively high TB rate among Filipinos indicates that TB control strategies should target this population. Providers should be encouraged to offer HIV testing to all TB patients.