Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

How frequently does the NPCR require central registries to perform hospital casefinding or reabstracting audits?

1. Annually

2. Every 2 years

3. Every 5 years

4. Every decade

The correct answer is: Every 5 years

The correct choice is based on the guidelines established by the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), which mandates that central cancer registries must conduct hospital casefinding or reabstracting audits every 5 years. This requirement is in place to ensure the accuracy and completeness of cancer data collected by registries. Audits serve as a quality control measure, allowing registries to verify that the information being gathered is both reliable and comprehensive. By performing these audits on a 5-year cycle, the NPCR aims to maintain a high standard in cancer surveillance and data management, which is crucial for cancer control efforts and research. The 5-year interval strikes a balance that allows sufficient time to pass for meaningful insight and analysis while also ensuring that any potential discrepancies or issues in data collection and reporting can be identified and remedied proactively. This systematic approach supports the continued integrity of cancer registries and the important role they play in public health.