Description
Apply a supplied small-cell display threshold to a count.
Public-health data distinguishes assigned case definitions, invitation responses, missing codes, repeat attendances and population denominators. A display-suppression rule changes visible text without necessarily preventing re-identification. Administrative labels and local summaries require verified study, privacy and clinical context before they can support population-health decisions.
Apply a supplied small-cell display threshold to a count.
When to use this tool
Use Public Health Small Cell Display Rule when you already have count, suppliedThreshold, suppressEquality, suppressionText and need to apply a supplied small-cell display threshold to a count.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter count, suppliedThreshold, suppressEquality, suppressionText. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read suppressed, displayText. Inspect suppressed before interpreting the associated values.
Require nonnegative safe whole count/threshold and nonempty suppressionText. Suppress count<threshold, or count<=threshold when suppressEquality=true; otherwise display the decimal count.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| count | Count | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| suppliedThreshold | Supplied Threshold | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| suppressEquality | True uses <=threshold, false uses <threshold; no default privacy threshold is supplied. | Required. Boolean. |
| suppressionText | Suppression Text | Required. Text; minimum UTF-16 length 1; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| suppressed | Suppressed | Required. Boolean. |
| displayText | Display Text | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
{
"input": {
"count": 3,
"suppliedThreshold": 5,
"suppressEquality": false,
"suppressionText": "\u003c5"
},
"output": {
"suppressed": true,
"displayText": "\u003c5"
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Display suppression alone does not anonymize data or prevent inference through totals, linked records or repeated queries.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Review the surveillance definition, survey codebook and population frame for actual counts and classifications. Assess disclosure controls across the full released dataset, including linked totals and repeated queries, rather than relying on one small-cell display rule.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Consented Case Note Name Mask
Choose a case-note name or mask under a supplied display-permission flag.
- Pathology Reader ID Mask
Choose whether to display a reader identifier or a supplied mask.