Bureau of Surveillance and Epidemiology
Mission
To provide a comprehensive picture of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District of Columbia for purposes of ensuring that the needs of people infected with HIV, or at risk of infection, are met.
Core Functions
The bureau, working together with local health care providers and laboratories, collects and maintains HIV-related data in a confidential and secure manner; analyzing, interpreting, and distributing epidemiologic information for use in developing public policy, planning and evaluating prevention and health care services, and supporting funding requests.
- Core Surveillance: The primary source of population-based data on persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Provides information on the number of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed on an annual basis; the total number of persons living with HIV infection at a given time; HIV-related illness and death; HIV in infants; HIV testing behaviors; risks / exposure to HIV infection; access to care in HIV-infected populations; and changes in trends related to the epidemic.
- Incidence Surveillance: Identifies and estimates the number of newly-acquired HIV infections in an effort to provide accurate information on HIV transmission. Includes the collection and testing of diagnostic blood specimens and collection of HIV testing and medication use information.
- Behavioral Surveillance: Measures HIV risk behaviors, testing behaviors, and the use of prevention programs among selected high risk populations.
