In their recent editorial, Blank and Jemmott raise concerns about the value and efficiency of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clearance review policy for scientific manuscripts, in particular as the policy applies to manuscripts led by non-CDC authors.1 CDC appreciates the concerns raised by the authors. CDC values the partnerships and collaborations that it has with the many non-CDC scientists with whom we work and reaffirms its commitment to its responsibility of providing timely, high-quality scientific information.
To fulfill that commitment, CDC has in place a process for review of manuscripts authored and coauthored by CDC professionals that seeks to ensure scientific rigor and accuracy, and to coordinate relevant expert input across the agency.2 Additionally, CDC’s review process ensures adherence to certain federal laws and policies, including the Office of Management and Budget Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review, which provides directives and guidance on the appropriate use by federal agencies of disclaimers when a publication does not represent official government policy.3
The scope and breadth of CDC reviews are at the discretion of supervisors and are determined by the scope and breadth of the research, complexity of the science issues, and likely impact of scientific findings. While the extent of review and possible need for approval by multiple CDC organizational units may add to clearance times, we strive to minimize the time and number of reviewers. Over the past year, the median clearance time for manuscripts tracked in our electronic system (n = 3206) has been 22 business days.
CDC believes that the intent and purposes of its clearance policy are appropriate. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement. CDC will review its current policy to ensure that it supports both the quality of scientific information that the public health community expects and timely reporting. We welcome this opportunity to explain the spirit behind our processes and be reminded that CDC’s research is used every day in making health decisions for people across the nation and the globe.
References
- 1.Blank MB, Jemmott JB., III The CDC clearance process: an obstacle to progress in public health. Am J Public Health. 2015;105(4):614–615. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302600. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clearance of Information Products Disseminated Outside CDC for Public Use. 2005. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/maso/Policy/PublicUse.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2015.
- 3.Office of Management and Budget. Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review. 2004. Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-03.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2015.