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Chronic Wasting Disease

Hunter Submission Pathway

In December 2019, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) rolled out the hunter submission pathway for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing. This option is available to hunters both in- and out-of-state for cervids harvested in Iowa that either:

  • Do not meet the DNR’s surveillance criteria (i.e. fawns) or,
  • Are harvested in counties or management zones that have already exceeded surveillance quotas

How to Submit a CWD Sample

We test for CWD in free-ranging white-tailed deer using the medial retropharyngeal lymph node, which requires a cut to the neck right behind the jaw. If you intend to mount your harvest, you can work with your taxidermist to pull a sample. Otherwise, you can bring an intact carcass or just the head to your local DNR Unit so our field staff can pull your sample. Additionally, if you are interested in learning how to collect your own sample, check out the video and sampling card at the bottom of this page, and other resources produced by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. You can now go ahead and submit the paired "A" and "B" lymph nodes to the VDL for testing for $25/deer. 

To submit a sample for testing, please go to the VDL web portal:

CWD Testing Web Portal

  • You will enter the same information about your deer that we collect for all DNR surveillance samples, like the sex, age class, and location of harvest. Once you submit your online payment you will receive a 6-digit “Web ID” number. This Web ID will link your information to the tissue sample received at the lab.
  • To send samples directly to the VDL, place the paired  lymph nodes in a clean sealable plastic bag  labeled with your Web ID. Ship to the address below using a standard envelope or other shipping container. Ship as early in the week as possible. Ice packs are not required.

    Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
    Iowa State University
    1937 Christensen Drive
    Ames, IA 50011-1100

Please note, cervids harvested outside of Iowa are also eligible for testing through the VDL. For elk, both brainstem (obex) and lymph node should be screened.

Sampling Resources

Learn how to take a lymph node sample to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) by watching the following video, produced by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and download this sampling card that also explains how to disinfect your processing tools and age deer using their cheek teeth.

This video was a collaboration between Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa DNR.