In general, efforts which focus on monitoring diagnostic effort are especially important for assessing completeness of case reporting when the incidence of a disease or health condition of interest is falling, and approaching elimination. Under these circumstances, identification of cases not reported to our surveillance system, and identification of individuals who have come in contact with case patients becomes very important because we gain an understanding how our surveillance system needs to be modified in order to become more sensitive and complete. The new cases need to be followed-up for complete investigation, and the institution where they were identified added as a reporting site for our surveillance system. Similarly, case contacts need to be followed-up for investigation and reported to our surveillance system if they are diagnosed as having disease, and referred to a clinic for prophylaxis that would assist in preventing the spread of diseases as well as for treatment of any symptoms.

Monitoring diagnostic effort also helps us identify areas where the availability of laboratory testing is problematic, and thus, must be remedied. In these circumstances, efforts can be taken to inform health care providers that they can contact their local health authority or other resources to obtain appropriate laboratory testing services.