Starting in 1987 CAMACS has:

1. Participated in the planning and design of studies in all areas of MACS research
2. Coordinated data acquisition by closely monitoring the development of forms used as data collection instruments and by establishing strict guidelines for data transfer through development of codebooks and design of data structures
3. Standardized procedures for editing and updating the data, in close collaboration with the performance sites
4. Established procedures for data management and organized the database to be conducive to efficient analysis
5. Provided data analysis leadership in collaboration with investigators of different centers
6. Developed relevant epidemiological and biostatistical methodology which has been published in peer reviewed journals

Data and specimens collected at semiannual visits include: detailed questions covering sexual practices, HIV related symptoms, and utilization of health services, demographic and psychosocial characteristics, a quality of life survey, a physical examination, a detailed form on medications used as prophylaxis and/or treatment, a neuropsychological screening and examination, blood samples to measure hematologic variables including a complete enumeration of T-cell subsets and viral load measurements and the allocation of samples to be sent to the National Repository. These specimens are invaluable for helping to understand the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.