Identifiers | Core Data Elements for Case Notification
In public health surveillance, identifiers refer to specific, unique data points used to distinguish a person, record or event. Identifiers are essential for linking information within a case of a notifiable condition as well as for protecting more direct patient identity information. Different identifier types may apply depending on the condition being reported and type of data being linked.
Within the Identifiers data class, two existing elements—Person ID (formerly Local Subject ID) and Case ID (formerly Local Record ID), were renamed and redefined for clarity. As required fields, these elements were reviewed in the consensus process as part of the written recommendations rather than voted on as core data elements. To accommodate the range of identifier types needed across conditions, an additional repeating group of two elements is recommended as core, allowing for flexible transmission of identifier information.
Required Surveillance Data Elements in the Identifiers Data Class
Core Surveillance Data Elements in the Death Data Class
For complete definitions, value sets, data structure notes and implementation recommendations, please review the full document drafted by the Data Standardization Working Group (DSWG).