The NAVIPPRO™ signal verification process is an investigative response that includes a combination of epidemiologic analysis and field investigation to validate whether an observed “signal” represents a true change in the pattern of prescription drug abuse. Building on NAVIPPRO’s enhanced signal detection methods, signal verification includes careful interpretation and assessment of statistical data alerts to determine whether the signal has an identifiable cause.
Standard operating procedures and a stepwise investigative process help to address basic questions about the relationship of an observed data pattern to real world events at the clinical and community level. The NAVIPPRO signal verification process allows appropriate notification of reliable signals for development of intervention and prevention strategies. The collective expertise of NAVIPPRO researchers in the areas of substance abuse, signal detection, epidemiology, and biostatistics provides a level of scientific interpretation and judgment for validating and verifying a signal.
NAVIPPRO’s evaluation and response strategies ensure that reliable and actionable signals of importance are reported, avoiding extensive and costly investigation and minimizing the potential for false positive results.