Your Privacy Matters

We value your participation in NHANES and protecting your privacy is a top priority for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

NCHS is bound by law to protect your data, following strict privacy standards that have protected every NHANES participant since 1960. Taking part in NHANES is voluntary.

We take multiple steps to make sure your information is kept private and confidential.

• Your name will not be linked with your interview data or exam results.  Instead, you will be given a unique participant ID for the survey.

• Your protected data are combined with information from thousands of others. These data are then carefully reviewed to ensure that no information can be linked back to you or anyone else.
• NHANES databases are password protected and encrypted and can only be viewed by appropriate authorized personnel.
• NHANES staff take specialized training each year on methods to protect your data.
• NHANES staff are legally required to protect your data. Anyone who shares information about you can be fined up to $250,000, lose their job, and go to jail for up to 5 years.

You are protected by Federal laws, including:

• The Privacy Act of 1974;
• The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act; and
• The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act.

More information on Participant Privacy can be found in our  Confidentiality Brochure.