Attachment 3c_HIV RT EZ cover letter

September 22, 2009

HIV Rapid Testing (HIV-RT) Model Performance Evaluation Program September 2009 Survey

Purpose	Dear Participant: The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information regarding: The enclosed sample panel for the September 2009 HIV-RT MPEP survey. How to submit your HIV Rapid Testing MPEP Results online. Note: the MPEP is now only accepting results online

DEADLINE

Submitted result data should be received online by October 26, 2009.

Sample panel WARNING: The HIV-1 antibody-positive samples in this panel have been heated at 56°C for 60 minutes to inactivate bloodborne viruses. Because no test method can offer complete assurance that infectious agents are absent, these samples should be handled as if potentially infectious. Follow the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards for bloodborne pathogens (29CFR Part 1910), http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html

The enclosed sample panel consists of six (6) vials. These samples are previously frozen plasma: you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions included with your HIV rapid testing kit for any additional pre-testing sample processing that is required for a previously frozen plasma/serum specimen. should be handled as per the following WARNING:

Damaged/ missing samples?

If the samples were damaged in transit, you may request a second shipment by telephoning the MPEP Coordinator at Contractor TBD: 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. NOTE: The deadline for requesting this second shipment is October 2, 2009

Testing

There are instructions for result entry available online on our result website. If you wish, you may utilize the enclosed results online EZ worksheet as an aid to recording your results online. The samples are for HIV rapid testing ONLY; they should be processed in the same manner as patient/client specimens require only ONE set of results be submitted online to the MPEP for each different type of HIV rapid testing kit used.

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Submit results

The method to submit results is online and you will need: the web address (URL): http://wwwn.cdc.gov/mpep/results/login.aspx your MPEP number, and the password which was emailed to you September 8, 2009 to the email address we have on record for your site. NOTE: Please contact the MPEP if you did NOT receive the above mentioned email, as we will send most communications via email.

Questions? Comments?

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, by: telephone at (404) 498-2246, or via email at [email protected]

S incerely yours, Sandra W. Neal, B.S., MT(ASCP), M.S., P.M.P. HIV Rapid Testing Project Manager (Acting) Model Performance Evaluation Program Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leigh Vaughan, B.A. HIV Rapid Test Project Coordinator Model Performance Evaluation Program Centers for Disease Control and Prevention