Updated: December 23rd, 2025
Overview
In 2022, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) launched the Rapid Surveys System (RSS), with data collection beginning in 2023. Since launching, RSS has completed six rounds of data collection through commercially available probability-based online panels fielded by private partners 1,3. RSS serves three main purposes: to provide CDC and partners with time-sensitive data of known quality about emerging health concerns, to increase NCHS’s expertise in evaluating public health estimates from online panels, and to improve methods for communicating fitness-for-use of panel estimates. The system enables real-time evidence-based decision making by quickly collecting actionable data on time-sensitive topics 1,2.
RSS uses probability sampling to recruit a minimum of 4,000 adults per round across two panels: AmeriSpeak (National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago) and KnowledgePanel (Ipsos). Online panels consist of persons recruited using statistical sampling, primarily through address-based sampling (ABS) methods, who agree to participate in multiple surveys typically in exchange for payment or prizes. The RSS platform is designed to approximate national representation of the adult population in ways that many data collection approaches cannot 1,2.
Online questionnaires track responders, partial responders, and non-responders, producing data that includes questionnaire responses, limited paradata, demographics, and sample weights. The system prioritizes speed and flexibility over consistency, using different methodology than other NCHS programs and resulting in lower precision due to smaller sample sizes compared to household surveys administered by trained professionals. NCHS conducts extensive quality reviews before public release and incorporates standard weighting variables and selected content from established NCHS surveys (like NHIS) to enable researchers to compare panel estimates against NCHS benchmarks and assess data fitness-for-use 1,2.
The types of data collected include 4:
Round 1 (August 2023): Health impacts of air cleaners and purifiers, including home ventilation and HEPA filters, breast cancer screening practices, and beliefs about cancer risks linked to alcohol. It also addresses the use of chemical hair products, genetic testing for cancer risk, various gynecological medical procedures, awareness and beliefs about Long COVID, methods for measuring race and ethnicity, and attitudes towards sunscreen use.
Round 2 (October — November 2023): ADHD diagnosis, treatment, and insurance coverage, chronic pain management and treatment experiences, and contraception use among women. It also covers fit testing and use of hearing protection devices, awareness of illegal drugs and Naloxone, online connectedness and social media use, swimming abilities and experiences, and experiences with technology-facilitated sexual violence.
Round 3 (January - February 2024): Beliefs, knowledge, and difficulties in collecting family health history, the use of genetic testing to assess risks for cancer and heart disease, and recent sexual health services and sources of information related to sexual health.
Round 4 (April - May 2024): Experiences with technology-facilitated sexual violence, intimate partner coercion and control, and psychological aggression in relationships. It also examines instances of forced sexual contact and threats, as well as traumatic brain injuries resulting from intimate partner violence.
Round 5 (July 2024): Positive childhood experiences including availability of help and emotional support for parents, sources of information about childhood vaccines from healthcare providers and schools, and factors that make it difficult to get children vaccinated, such as costs, time, and transportation issues.
Round 6 (February - March 2025): Perceptions and practices related to HPV test self-collection, participation in produce prescription programs, awareness and responses to common stroke symptoms, and knowledge and exposure to chronic wasting disease.
Gaining Access
Do I Qualify?
All individuals seeking to use the data for statistical analysis and reporting purposes may access and download it.
Typical Timeline
There are no time constraints for accessing these data.
Step-by-Step Guide
No specific steps are required. Researchers can navigate to the Rapid Surveys Datasets and Documentation page, locate the desired Round link, and download the corresponding data 5.
Do I Qualify?
Individuals seeking to use data for statistical analysis and reporting may submit research proposals to the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC) through the Standard Application Process (SAP) via the ResearchDataGov (RDG) portal 6,7.
Applicants must fulfill criteria during application review and, in some cases, after approval. The four core criteria below are summarized from the RDG User Guide 8. If additional post-approval steps are required, data-owning agencies contact applicants directly to initiate those processes.
Identification: Researchers verify identity, job title, organizational affiliation, and skill level. Some agencies require U.S. citizenship confirmation.
Training: Some agencies require post-approval training on data use, management, confidentiality, and cybersecurity.
Agreements: Researchers sign agreements such as non-disclosure or data use agreements. Some data sources require security plans outlining data protection methods.
Investigation: Researchers undergo background checks.
How Is My Application Assessed?
All applications submitted through SAP are evaluated against the same criteria regardless of the agency or unit, unless required by law or regulation. Full criteria are available in the RDG User Guide and summarized below 8:
Statistical Purpose: Data is used solely for statistical purposes, not to identify individuals or businesses, nor for law enforcement, legal cases, or regulatory actions.
Allowed Use: Researchers plan to use data in compliance with applicable rules and restrictions.
Statistical Disclosure Limitation: Researchers must employ techniques that protect individual, organizational, or business privacy.
Demonstrated Need: Researchers must demonstrate that confidential data is necessary for project goals and that publicly available data is insufficient.
Feasibility: Researchers can achieve project goals with requested data. This is evaluated in three ways:
Project Design: Detailed planned methods and how technical and logistical needs will be met.
Agency or Unit Support: Confirmation that agencies can provide space, technical assistance, logistics, and data preparation.
Applicant Ability: Applicants possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to execute the project.
- Maintaining Public Trust: Projects are expected to maintain public trust and confidence in the agency or unit.
Additionally, the NCHS Review Committee evaluates studies for well-defined public health research questions, benefits to data-providing agencies, and appropriateness of planned outputs (papers, articles, presentations) 9.
NCHS does not evaluate studies for scientific merit or relevance (substantive, methodological, theoretical, or policy). Study output release is not guaranteed due to privacy concerns and application compliance requirements.
Typical Timeline
Upon receiving applications, assigned RDC analysts and the review committee—comprised of data system representatives and the confidentiality officer—assess applications for approval, disapproval, or revision requests. If denied, researchers receive justification for the decision and may request appeals through SAP 10.
Studies may require amendments to approved applications. Amendment approvals typically take up to four weeks, but complicated requests may require eight to twelve weeks.
Step-by-Step Guide
a. Prepare Your Application Before Completing the Form
The RDG portal provides access to applications for data from 13 agencies and 3 units within the Federal Statistical System (FSS), including NCHS. Each agency may have additional application requirements. While the RDG User Guide and RDC Application Process page contain detailed information, researchers are encouraged to contact relevant agencies before submitting applications 6,8.
Example applications, data dictionaries, and complete details are available on the RDC Application Process page 6. This summary provides an outline and directs researchers to relevant information sources. Contact the RDC at rdca@cdc.gov for further assistance 8.
Confirm the study requires restricted data access and that FSS data will meet research needs. Contact all relevant agencies or units to verify that required data can be combined, whether restricted-use, publicly available, or non-FSS.
Select a preferred access location and confirm eligibility. Non-U.S. citizens should contact the intended facility before writing proposals to confirm eligibility for data access. Refer to the Data Distribution Centers section for more details.
Data access methods and locations may vary, especially if the data comes from different agencies or units within the FSS.
- The NCHS requires additional documents as *.pdf or *.docx and additional concerns to be addressed beyond the base SAP application. Before starting the application, it is recommended to prepare the following:
A data dictionary listing all requested variables from publicly available, restricted-use, and non-NCHS data sources, which can largely be created using SAP. Refer to the Providing the Public Use and Non-NCHS Data page for additional guidelines on preparing applications with these data types 11.
A description of the research methodology and a list of supporting references.
A detailed description of the intended data product (e.g., paper, journal article, or presentation).
A timeline for managing the project within a three-year period.
An explanation of how the project will benefit NCHS or other data-providing agencies for the Agency Benefits section of the application.
b. Complete the SAP Application Form
- In SAP, search for and select the datasets needed for the study and add them to the checkout basket. Any data added to the same basket will be included in a single application.
Additional data can be added to the application if needed after submission.
When ready to proceed, open the basket and select Start Application. It is recommended that the principal investigator (PI) or co-principal investigator (co-PI) create the application, as only they will be able to make edits after submission.
In the application, the researcher will need to provide their information, a description of the project that demonstrates the need for restricted-use data, and upload the required documents as *.pdf or *.docx. The SAP application and some agency- or unit-specific requirements can be found in the RDG User Guide 8.
Submit the application for review.
c. Review the Committee’s Decision and Finalize the Application
Upon receiving the application, the RDC director will assign the group an RDC analyst who will work with them throughout the entire process of applying for data, accessing the data, and finalizing the output of their results 9. The RDC analyst will:
- Facilitate application review and accept NCHS-required confidentiality paperwork.
- Accept payments incurred by data center access.
- Create datasets by compiling data specified in data dictionaries and linking using designated variables. Analytical datasets are provided during data center visits.
- Review results for disclosure risk and provide them once analysis is completed at data centers.
Researchers with approved applications must complete the following steps to prepare for data access and utilization.
Discuss the committee’s approval with the assigned RDC analyst and address any revision requests as needed.
Provide the RDC analyst with approved data dictionaries, public-use and non-NCHS data, descriptions of desired data linkages with intended final formats, and clearly defined derived variables, including arithmetic code or algorithms.
Complete the Confidentiality and Disclosure training and forms, then provide them to the RDC analyst. Additional forms, documents, and tools are available on the RDC Reference Materials page 12,13.
When invoiced, pay fees incurred by the request and applicable to data access at the intended location and frequency. Complete details are in Fees and Invoicing 14.
Amendments for project changes are possible but require additional approval prior to implementation. Common reasons for an amendment include, but are not limited to, changes in the research team, requests for additional variables, new methods, or requests for additional types of output 6. However, if the scope or research question changes, a new application is required instead.
Contact the RDC directly at rdca@cdc.gov for further guidance.
d. Accessing the Data and Publication Expectations
- After completing the steps in Part C, the RDC analyst will prepare the dataset. Once it is ready, schedule an appointment to access the data at the chosen RDC location. Schedule appointments at least one week in advance.
Different data centers have different access procedures and may incur additional fees depending on frequency of data access. Refer to the Data Distribution Centers section and associated links for additional guidance.
- Upon completion of analysis, submit an output request to the RDC analyst for review and approval. Full details about requirements and expectations are on the Output Policies and Procedures page 15.
NCHS does not guarantee that study-generated output will be released due to concerns related to, but not limited to, privacy and alignment with the approved application.
- When output is nearly complete, send it to the RDC analyst for review before submitting for publication or distribution. Full details about requirements and expectations are on the Publishing Guidelines page 16.
Data Distribution Centers
NCHS data is available at two types of data centers: the Census Bureau’s Federal Statistical Research Data Centers (FSRDC) and the NCHS Research Data Centers (RDCs). Additional details about preparing to access data at one of these sites can be found on the RDC Location of Access page or their respective subpages: FSRDC and NCHS RDC 6,17–19.
Submit an electronic copy of any notes or reference materials needed to the RDC analyst prior to visiting a center. Hard copies of these materials are not allowed. Electronic communication devices, such as phones, pagers, and laptops, are also not permitted in the RDC.
Different software products or add-ons can be requested, though not all requests will be approved. Be aware that requesting additional software accommodations may delay project approval. Contact the specific RDC where data will be accessed for further guidance.
Federal Statistical Research Data Centers
Researchers must be affiliated with a university or agency to qualify for FSRDC access. They must also meet physical and information security requirements, including obtaining Census Bureau Special Sworn Status (SSS) and passing a background investigation. Non-U.S. citizens are generally encouraged to use FSRDCs.
Researchers are assigned both an NCHS RDC analyst and an FSRDC administrator from the location they intend to visit. The NCHS RDC analyst roles were described previously under Part C of the Step-by-Step Guide. The FSRDC (Census RDC) administrator will:
- Be available to answer questions pertaining to SSS, access and entry to a FSRDC location, software availability, and additional Census fees.
- They may be available to help develop the application.
- Transfer output to the NCHS after researchers complete their analysis at a data center. The RDC analyst will review the output for disclosure risk and provide researchers with the results.
If accessing an FSRDC, the data must be transferred from NCHS after completing all requirements outlined by the assigned RDC analyst seven days prior to the intended visit. These additional steps incur extra costs beyond the NCHS RDC data access fee and may delay data access.
- In-person: Census Bureau facilities at partner institutions.
- Remote access: A secure Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) may be available.
- Software Available: Anaconda, Gurobi, Intel Composer, Knittro, MADD, Mathematica, NATLAB, OpenGeoda, R and Rstudio, SAS, Stat/Transfer, Stata, Stata-MP, SUDAAN, and Tomlab.
NCHS Research Data Centers
- In-person: Facilities located in Hyattsville, MD, Atlanta, GA, and Rockville, MD require appointments scheduled at least one week in advance.
- Remote access: Not available due to computers being disconnected from the internet.
- Software Available: Microsoft Office products, R, SAS, Stata, Python, SPSS (v. 19), and SAS-callable SUDAAN.
Required Documentation
When accessing the data, researchers must provide the following documentation in addition to an approved application:
- Proof of identification, such as a REAL ID
- Curriculum vitae (CV) for each applicant
- For student projects, an agreement form completed by the student’s advisor 20
- Permission to use proprietary data
- Table shells for requested output
- Data dictionary listing all necessary variables (restricted-use, public-use, and external) for the research project (refer to agency dataset data dictionaries for available variables)
Relevant Links
RSS Datasets and Documentation: Find links to data and documentation associated with all rounds of RSS 5.
RSS Restricted Data: Find links to the landing page for requesting restricted data produced by RSS 21.
NCHS Data User Agreement: Find the data use limitations and expectations set by NCHS for using their publicly available data 22.
Topics and Estimates: Find links to the data pages associated with subtopics included in all rounds of RSS. Each page links to various compilations of information, including datasets, documentation, and interactive dashboards that highlight the data 4.
Publications
This section presents a selection of PubMed articles that utilize the dataset and are authored by individuals affiliated with the Yale University. These articles are provided to inspire researchers and students to use the data in their own work.