About DSWG
Background: Data Standardization at CSTE
When a disease outbreak occurs, public health agencies need to share information quickly and accurately. However, the way disease case data is collected and reported varies widely across states, territories, Tribal nations, and federal agencies. The same data element — such as when a patient first became ill — may be defined differently depending on the system, condition, or jurisdiction recording it. This inconsistency slows response times, creates additional burden for health departments, and limits the ability to analyze data across jurisdictions.
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ (CSTE) Data Standardization Workgroup (DSWG) brings together epidemiologists, informaticians, and public health professionals from state, Tribal, local, and territorial health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Together, they identify data elements common across many diseases and conditions — such as hospitalization status, pregnancy, travel history, and illness onset date — and develop clear, consensus-based definitions for each.
CSTE’s Data Standardization Process
Developing standardized data elements that works across the public health system requires time, expertise, and broad collaboration. The DSWG uses a structured, four-level review process to ensure that every definition we publish has been rigorously vetted — by subject matter experts, CSTE members, and the state and territorial epidemiologists who will implement them.
What is "core" data?
Core is a designation applied to data elements and data classes that are relevant across many diseases and conditions and are not specific to any single condition or condition family. Core data elements and classes are identified by the DSWG as essential for routine public health case surveillance. This designation does not mean a core data element is required to be sent to CDC in all circumstances; rather, jurisdictions should ensure the element is available within their surveillance systems and transmit it when applicable and available.
Learn More
For a detailed overview of the data standardization initiative, including recommended actions for health departments and CDC programs, read the full policy brief: Standardizing Core Case Notification Data Elements to Improve National and Jurisdictional Public Health Surveillance (CSTE, May 2025). [Link to policy brief: https://www.cste.org/resource/resmgr/briefs/25-PB-SI-01_Standardizing_Co.pdf]