The family of HIV seroprevalence surveys: objectives, methods, and uses of sentinel surveillance for HIV in the United States.

During 1987-89, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in collaboration with State and local health departments, other Federal agencies, blood collection agencies, and medical research institutions, implemented a national sentinel surveillance system for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This ongoing surveillance system, known as the CDC family of HIV seroprevalence surveys, uses standardized survey and HIV serologic testing procedures in a group of sentinel populations from geographically diverse metropolitan areas, States, and Territories of the United States. As of September 1989, sentinel surveillance for HIV infection was being conducted in 41 States, Puerto Rico, and 39 metropolitan areas, including the District of Columbia. Information from this system complements AIDS surveillance data to assist health officials to direct resources and develop strategies for HIV prevention and health-care programs.