Background
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of periodic
surveys conducted by NCHS. Examination surveys conducted since 1960 by NCHS have provided
national estimates of health and nutritional status of the U.S. civilian
noninstitutionalized population. The third NHANES, NHANES III, began in the Fall of 1998
and ended in the Fall of 1994. The survey data collected can be analyzed in two phases:
Phase I was conducted from October 1988 to October 1999, and Phase 2 was conducted from
October 1991 to October 1994. Both Phases are nationally representative samples. For
details of the sampling design see the Plan and Operation of the Third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-94 (20 MB pdf file).
DNA
Samples
Blood specimens were collected from participants as a part of NHANES III. Lymphocytes were
isolated from the blood collected from participants aged 12 years and older and stored
frozen in liquid nitrogen or as cell cultures immortalized with Epstein-Barr virus. Cell
cultures are available primarily from Phase 2 of the survey. Frozen white cells are
available from Phase 2 and some Phase 1 subjects.
Though an extensive consent form was
signed by participants in the survey, specific mention of genetic testing was not
included. Given the scientific importance of this resource, a proposal to develop a plan
to make DNA available to the research community for anonymized testing was presented to
and approved by the NHANES Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the September 16, 1996
meeting.
Proposals are being solicited for use
of the NHANES III anonymized DNA specimens. All interested researchers are encouraged to
submit proposals. For more information
Serum Specimens
As part of the operation of NHANES III, blood was collected from participating sample
persons. This blood was separated into its components and sent to the NHANES III
laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta or to one of the
eight contract laboratories. Because of the possibility of out-of-range results that need
to be repeated, more specimen volume was sent than was usually needed for the biochemical
tests. Since most sampled individuals do not have out-of-range results, there are large
numbers of surplus serum specimens. All specimens have been stored at -70 degrees
and have been through at least two freeze-thaw cycles. Specimens are stored at two
different locations due to logistics. These specimens have been thawed once for aliquoting
and have been kept at -70 degrees. Requests can be made for these specimens, but the need
for non-surplus specimens needs to be justified in the proposal.
Thank
you for your interest in the NHANES III DNA Repository. Having completed
our review of the first round of applications for samples from the
repository, we are now in the process of evaluating our protocol in the
light of a number of issues raised by this experience. Our ultimate goal
is to allow reasonable access to the samples for important scientific
studies while assuring participant confidentiality and compliance with
appropriate ethical standards. We have decided to discontinue further
review of applications while we are revising our protocol. If our revised
protocol is approved by the NHANES Institutional Review Board, we will
place an announcement on our Web site.