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Validation

Version 1.1.0 (updated 2026-02-09)
  • Updated version of documentation to clarify new standards
  • Serogrouping for meningococcus: Report only at the state/reporting jurisdiction level as reporting at smaller geographies would likely lead to data suppression; report separately from age.
  • Age Groups: Reported at the state/reporting jurisdiction level; Combined the <1 year age groups (currently 0-6 months and 6-12 months) for current diseases (measles, pertussis, meningococcus) into a single “<1 year” category.
  • Removed “YTD” value as a valid option for time_unit.
  • Removed monthly aggregations; only weekly aggregation of cases by MMWR week for all diseases.
  • New value uses implemented: total, unknown, unspecified have specified meaning and uses, NA is only valid if geo_name = "international resident".

The validation process checks:

  • File format and structure
  • Required field presence
  • Data type compliance
  • Valid value adherence
  • Logical consistency
  • Cross-field rules

Validation errors will be reported back to submitters with specific error descriptions.


Validation Rules

Format Validation

  • File must be valid CSV format
  • Required fields must be present in all rows
  • Field names must match specification exactly (case-sensitive)

Data Type Validation

  • Dates must be in YYYY-MM-DD format
  • Counts must be positive integers
  • String fields must use exact valid values (case-sensitive)

Logical Validation

  • report_period_end must be after report_period_start
  • Date ranges must align with MMWR week boundaries
  • Geographic units must be consistent with reporting jurisdiction
  • Age group required for age-stratified aggregations
  • Disease subtype only valid for applicable diseases

Cross-Field Validation

  • Measles confirmation_status must be confirmed
  • Pertussis and meningococcus confirmation_status must be confirmed and probable
  • All diseases require weekly time_unit submissions