Assessing a web-based approach to collect complex and sensitive surveillance data: the sexually transmitted diseases- laboratory tests methods survey.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is looking for improved ways to collect complex, and highly sensitive, public health surveillance data. The Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Laboratory Test Methods Survey (STD-LMS) was developed to replace the traditional STD mail survey. The web-based STD-LMS offered distinct advantages over the traditional mail survey technique including,reduced time and cost of conducting the survey and avoiding the often error prone and tedious task of data entry.