Reports on HIV/AIDS: 1990

OCTOBER 5,1990, MMWR, Vol 39, No. 39, pp. 697-698
National AIDS Information Clearinghouse
The National AIDS Information Clearinghouse is a comprehensive information
service for persons working with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). As a service of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, the Clearinghouse collects, classifies, and distributes up-to-date information and provides expert reference assistance
to HIV- and AIDS-prevention professionals.
The Clearinghouse maintains information data bases that are accessed by reference specialists on request. The data bases contain descriptions of >12,000 organizations that provide HIV- and AIDS-related services and resources and >6000
AIDS-related educational materials. Reference specialists also have access to the
AIDS School Health Education Database (produced by CDC's Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health),
which describes resources for education of children and youth about HIV infection
and AIDS. A funding database, now under development, will provide information on
funding opportunities for community-based HIV and AIDS service organizations.
The Clearinghouse is a direct source of materials to help professionals keep up to
date on scientific data and guidelines issued by CDC. The Clearinghouse distributes
selected HIV/AIDS reprints from the MMWR and all issues of CDC's HIV/AIDS
Surveillance. Educational materials for use by the general public, including all
brochures and posters from the "America Responds to AIDS" program, are also
available. All Clearinghouse services are free and can be reached at [phone].
The Clearinghouse has Spanish-speaking staff, TTY/TDD access ([800] 243-7012), and
an international telephone line ([301] 217-0023). The Clearinghouse also operates the
AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service (ACTIS) to provide current information on
federally and privately sponsored clinical trials on HIV/AIDS. ACTIS is sponsored by
CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and the National Library of Medicine. ACTIS can be reached through the Clearinghouse or by dialing (800) TRIALS-A
([800] 874-2572).

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