About this change

1. Addition of the code “internet” to the “testing_service_type”. This will allow for better understanding of screening practices across England. It will also allow the “testing_service_type” variable to be validated against local data for accuracy.
2. Removal of the redundant “PCT_Testing Service” field. This is necessary as it is important that a mandatory dataset only collects information that is of use. As the Primary Care Trust (PCT) geography is now disbanded it is of no use.
3. Addition of the new variable “Venue_code”. This will allow an improvement in:
   1. Data quality – the venue_code variable will be populated with a site specific code to identify where the chlamydia test was taken/picked up. These codes are assigned to sites by Organisation Data Service (ODS). We will be able to use this information to validate the quality of the testing_service_type field.
   2. Data accuracy – Sexual Health or Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics do not provide patient postcode of residence data to laboratories and therefore it is not possible to attribute GUM tests submitted to CTAD to a local authority. The change will allow CTAD data to be cross referenced to the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD) chlamydia data in order to allocate a patient local authority. 4) Update of the “Gender” field to reflect the latest attributes for Gender, Phenotypic or Genotypic sex in the NHS Data Model and Dictionary Service.